Many see the online gamer as a couch potato who does little or no exercise and instead spends their life sat in front of the television or monitor. This view however has been shattered this week with the release of a report arguing that computer gamers are in many cases fit and healthy. However, the report did find that gamers were more prone to depression. The commissioning of this report is representative of the growing popularity of computer gaming and its effect on lifestyle and health. The long held belief is that excessively playing computer games will lead to a rise in obesity as well as social and emotional problems amongst the gaming fraternity.
The research was carried out by a conglomeration of US universities and focussed on players of the online game “EverQuest II”. Players of this fantasy game were offered a virtual weapon for completing the questionnaire that asked questions about health, weight and lifestyle. It found that the adult gamers had a body mass index of 25, while this is on the threshold of being overweight; the figure is still under the US national average of 28. In terms of lifestyle, the majority of the gamers stated they took part in physical exercise at least once a week.
Worryingly however the research did show that gamers were more prone to depression and the abuse of substances in comparison to those not playing games. The shortfall in the research though is that it does not give an indication of whether these problems are caused by gaming or whether people already prone to depression and substance abuse are attracted to playing computer games. One expert stated that the report seemed to provide proof of the existing theories around gaming. Whatever the worries surrounding the excessive playing of videogames, it is now part and parcel of modern society and will reveal its effects in time.
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