A study published by Dr. Linda A. Jackson of Michigan State University tested the link between video games and childhood obesity, and found no correlation between the amount of time a child spent playing video games and their body mass index (BMI). Common sense might suggest that kids who spend loads of time hunched behind a screen are likely to put on weight, but according to this study, this is simply not the case. <\/p>\n
The study did however find that playing games seems to have a negative effect on the grade-point averages (GPA) achieved my scholars. <\/p>\n
482 Michigan children took part in the study, which not only looked at their gaming habits, but also their general internet and cell phone use. Researchers looked specifically at how these activities affected the children’s BMI, performance at school, social self-esteem, and overall self-esteem.<\/p>\n
For the most part, no concrete relationships could be drawn between these activities and the variables listed, although video games did seem to negatively affect children’s performance at school. <\/p>\n
Having said that, children who play games displayed more developed spatial skills, which are believed to “be the foundation for the later learning of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.” 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. <\/p>\n
The results of the study run contrary to findings achieved in previous similar studies, which have suggested that games may have a positive effect on children’s academic performance, and a negative effect on their BMI. <\/p>\n