Obesity rates in Canada are at a historic high, according to a new study, and the problem is most severe in Atlantic Canada and the North.

"Being obese or overweight significantly increases the risk of chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers," lead author Carolyn Gotay of the University of British Columbia said.

"Our analysis shows that more Canadians are obese than ever before. On average, between one-fourth and one-third of Canadians are obese, depending on the region."

The study, published in the Canadian Journal of Public Health, tracks obesity between 2000 and 2011.

Over the course of that decade, Atlantic Canada, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut fared the worst, with more than 30% of the population being obese. Healthy food is notoriously expensive in the North.
B.C. had the smallest percentage of obesity over the decade, but the rate increased from less than 20% in 2000 to almost 25% by 2011.

In Quebec, the obesity rate remained at 24%.