BEIJING, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- About 97.5 percent of Chinese media workers are in sub-optimal health, meaning that their general physical condition is poor even though they have no specific disease, according to a survey released on the eve of China's Journalists' Day, which falls on Saturday.

The survey, by the Chinese Medical Doctors Association, reflects the analysis of 23,640 physical exam reports. It found that many media workers were showing the effects of their sedentary lifestyle, which included irregular sleep and meal schedules and heavy smoking.

Only about 73 percent of the general population is in sub-optimal health.

Sub-optimal health is defined as poor health with no specific diagnosis and it is marked by physical weakness, low vitality and a poor immune system.