In what she has dubbed the zero growth policy, Ms Gallagher will announce a radical government intervention in the capital's weight problem that will include fat clinics for seriously obese Canberrans and even government-sponsored lap-band surgery as a last resort.

The Chief Minister told The Canberra Times yesterday that if re-elected, she would commit $5.6 million over four years to her war on obesity, including the previously announced initiative to take sugary drinks out of Canberra's schools, in an effort to ensure that the obesity epidemic has peaked.

The new spending will commit more than $3.7 million to provide better services for people who are already overweight, encourage better eating and lifestyle habits and establish the clinics that would provide a range of services to help people get their weight under control.

There will also be $1.3 million for ''surgical intervention'' in cases where all else has failed.

Ms Gallagher, who also plans to slap a ban on fast food outlets operating from an ACT public hospital or health facility, said obesity and its related illnesses were looming as a large public health problem for the territory.

''We know that carrying too much weight places individuals at risk of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and musculoskeletal disease,'' the Chief Minister said. ''Obesity also increases the risk of some common cancers such as colon and breast cancer, and increases the rate of asthma in overweight children. Almost 7 per cent of the ACT population has diabetes or high blood glucose and this number is expected to increase by 50 per cent by 2020.

''In 2009, 557 Canberrans died from cardiovascular disease, that's 34 per cent of all deaths.''

Ms Gallagher will now take her zero growth policy to the electorate next month.

''We will expand the public obesity service to provide multi-disciplinary care to ensure a holistic approach to weight loss services,'' she said.

''This will include establishing clinics which provide medical, dietary, fitness and lifestyle assessments and advice, to support people in their quest to lose weight and establish healthy lifestyles.''

The Chief Minister will promise community, family and economic benefits if her policy achieves its goals.

''The latest research shows that diseases such as diabetes can be eliminated in many people simply by losing weight,'' she said.

''Simply by dropping some kilos, patients can experience improved heart function, longer life expectancy and improved capacity for work and recreation.

''Reducing obesity will be good for individuals, good for families, good for our community and good for the broader economy,'' Ms Gallagher said.