Games don't make kids fat says study

[Tinman]

Study: Games don't make kids fat

They do seem to have a negative effect on academic performance though

[phoenix]

They needed to conduct a survey to demonstrate that not spending sufficient time on one's studies has an adverse effect one one's academic performance?

I would have thought that would be obvious.

[Lycanthrope]

Despite this, children who spent more time playing games did not necessarily do better at maths or science, and achieved lower overall GPAs than other children.

I think that's the key indicator here. Did the study take into account what kinds of games they played and whether or not their gaming habits were well-balanced with studying and 'real life?'

I don't trust these studies >.<'

Oh, and while gaming might not make kids fat, it raises a curiosity actually sparked by this line:

Common sense might suggest that kids who spend loads of time hunched behind a screen...

How many gamers (as opposed to say, people who work desk jobs like accountants, secretaries, etc) are at risk of back pain and spinal damage due to bad posture (read: Postural Kyphosis)?



Just a thought

[Lycanthrope]

They needed to conduct a survey to demonstrate that not spending sufficient time on one's studies has an adverse effect one one's academic performance?

I would have thought that would be obvious.

*cough* You said it better than I did

[Tinman]

I think that's the key indicator here. Did the study take into account what kinds of games they played and whether or not their gaming habits were well-balanced with studying and 'real life?'

I don't trust these studies >.<'

Oh, and while gaming might not make kids fat, it raises a curiosity actually sparked by this line:


How many gamers (as opposed to say, people who work desk jobs like accountants, secretaries, etc) are at risk of back pain and spinal damage due to bad posture (read: Postural Kyphosis)?



Just a thought

Absolutely. My point was more that many would expect kids who spend their recreational time playing games as opposed to competing fun activities, such as sport, swimming, riding bikes, would be more likely to be overweight.

On a side note, I think my posture is probably most accurately captured as alternating between the top right and bottom left image, while I will occasionally revert to the top left for those WTF moments.

[Lycanthrope]

Absolutely. My point was more that many would expect kids who spend their recreational time playing games as opposed to competing fun activities, such as sport, swimming, riding bikes, would be more likely to be overweight.

*nod* I got that part, it was the academic bit which struck a chord. The postural bit was more a lateral curiosity than an entirely related one.

Regardless of actual weightgain, I'm curious about the risk of heart disease some more devout gamers face due to a largely sedentary lifestyle.

I'd actually be interested in an article about gaming and exercise. I can think of one person who likes to (stationary) cycle while playing Halo. There's also Dance Dance Revolution, Wii Fit and many other ways you can integrate gaming into an exercise regimen. I'd be curious about different erm... takes and opinions on this I think it sounds fun!

Maybe I'm just falling into the trap of thinking that most gamers have long ago forgotten how to move the majority of their bodies for longer than brisk escapades to the bathroom, kitchen and grocery store.

[czc]

While I know that not putting enough time into your studies (read none) is extremely bad. I'm not quite sure you can blame games. Because I know that in my matric year when I should have been studying for finals I discovered the wheel of time series.