"Armchair athletics" is reported to have become the most popular activity in China this month and has added to the nation's fears over obesity rates.

The media in China have even named the spectators otaku - a Japanese word meaning "venerable house", usually relating to a nerd who is so devoted to a hobby they won't leave home.

Statistics show 840 million of China's 1.3 billion population tuned in to watch the Olympics opening ceremony of the Beijing Games and interest is expected to be maintained until August 24th.

The increase in time spent in front of the TV, less physical jobs and a shift from a traditional Chinese diet with lots of vegetables and carbohydrates to a Western diet of meat, eggs and dairy produce has led to the Chinese gaining weight.

Figures show a quarter of Chinese adults are obese or overweight, shooting up from 13% in 1991. There are fears this figure could double over the next 20 years.