Favourite TV snacks include crisps, chips and pizza, and a couple of beers to wash it all down. The amount consumed depends on whether the game goes into extra time or penalties and whether the supported team won or lost.

Dr Clare Corish, lecturer in nutrition and dietetics at the Dublin Institute of Technology, says the results reveal the perils of snacking in front of the telly.

"There's no doubt people eat a lot sitting in front of the TV. If you are sitting at a table you are more aware of what you are eating and will only have one plate of food, but in front of the TV, people aren't aware of what they are eating and would eat plates of food without realising, " she says.

The snacks most favoured before and during matches were crisps and tortilla chips with dips.

An average 200g bag of tortilla chips or crisps works out at 500 calories, one-quarter of a woman's RDA and one-fifth of a man's.

Dips add further calories to the mix, especially if they are mayonnaise-based, says Corish.

"Mayonnaise-based dips are particularly heavy on calories, as well as containing a lot of fat, " she says.

People surveyed enjoyed takeaway pizzas as half-time favourites, adding up a further 600 calories.

On top of this, most also admitted to enjoying several beers, though the number consumed depended on the result of the game. On average, people consumed four beers during the match and if their chosen team lost, a further two were consumed as consolation. If they were on the winning side, people enjoyed four extra beers and a variety of take-aways to celebrate. Each pint of beer averages 200 calories.

If the matches end in a draw or a penalty shoot-out, male fans would consume an extra 2.5 pints of beer and anxious women could sip their way through an additional two glasses of wine, the equivalent of 140 extra calories.

The survey also highlighted the differences between the attitudes of men and women towards eating. Men said it was the suspense of the match that had them reaching for the chips, while women blamed it on nerves.

However, all people polled said they continually returned to the crisp bowl purely because it was there.

A spokesperson for WeightWatchers Ireland said there were pitfalls for people watching matches at home and in pubs. "If you are at home watching there is the temptation of a full fridge, freezer and anything else that comes to hand.

"If you are out in a pub watching, men especially tend to drink pints and though there is no fridge, there is an endless supply of crisps and a take-away on the way home."

Corish nonetheless feels there is some benefit to watching the World Cup over other TV programmes.

"At least the kids watch their favourite players and then run out for a kick around, " she said.

"And for the adults, at least there is a chance of some action and exercise as they jump up and down with any goals."