Figures confirmed by the Olympic Delivery Authority show 3,360 of the 12,000 site workers were classed as obese during an occupational health study.

And an even higher number – 4,920 – were found to be overweight and 3,500 suffering from high blood pressure.

The shock findings sparked the ODA into action with the offer of £1 bowls of porridge for breakfast to give construction workers a healthy start to the day.

Health experts at the Games blamed the high obesity levels on workers eating fatty takeaways the night before and skipping breakfast.

They also found that accident levels peaked in the hour before lunch when hungry workers were focusing on what to eat next.

An ODA report stated: “The workers were coming into work for three hours suffering really low blood sugar.

“We had canteens offering porridge for a £1 and accidents in the morning went down.”