MELTON residents are healthier than many Victorians, but there's still plenty of room for improvement, according to a state health survey.

The Victorian Population Health Survey 2009, released last week, reveals that a higher percentage of Melton men and women smoke than the state average.

In Melton, 25.5 per cent of men and 22.2 per cent of women are smokers, compared to statewide averages of 21.4 per cent and 16.9 per cent respectively.

Melton fared better when it came to drinking high levels of alcohol (8.5 per cent for men compared to 13.6 per cent statewide) and 2.2 per cent for women (compared to 6.9 per cent).

But more men are overweight and more men and women are obese than the state average.

The data showed 43.9 per cent of men are overweight (compared to 39.9 per cent statewide).

It revealed 22.5 per cent of men are obese (17.3 per cent statewide) and 24.4 per cent of women (16.1 per cent statewide).

More than half of Melton's population is eating the appropriate amount of vegetables and more than half of women are getting sufficient physical activity.

But while there were some positives, Melton residents remain at a much greater risk of developing diabetes, according to Djerriwarrh Health Services chief executive Bruce Marshall.

The shire had a "disproportionately" high burden of chronic disease, he said.

"Many of these conditions can be prevented and are attributable to a number of lifestyle risk factors.

"It's not as simple as telling people that they need to eat more fruit and vegies. In fact, it's a complex issue that requires a collaborative approach.

"We need to make healthy choices the easy choice, and this can only be achieved in collaboration with other partners who can influence the broader social and environmental factors impacting on health."

Diabetes Australia Victoria identified the Melton and Bacchus Marsh area as a "significant hotspot" where greater than 4 per cent of the population have either type 1 or 2 diabetes.