ALERT! Hi-tech games make kids fat!

by Conrad Quilty-Harper { Dec 28th 2005 at 11:45AM }

Once a year someone, somewhere finds the time to release a study on the topic of increasing child obesity levels. The study invariably points the finger at some form of popular media and it just so happens that this time around video games are taking the blame. The Manchester Evening News picked up on a recent study on this subject and labelled it quite dramatically as a "health alert".

The article highlights an irrational fear that "our future generations will be computer and electronic whizz kids, but too overweight and lazy to move out of the confines of their hi-tech, globally-wired bedrooms." Apparently since the 1970's, the presents that kids choose for Christmas have evolved from presents involving physical activity (like spacehoppers and chopper bicycles) to less active presents like video games and dolls. As a result the average weight of children and young adults is spiralling out of control.

Forgive us for being a little unphased by this "health alert". Since when is it news that kids prefer games over outdoor activities? More importantly, how are today's "hi-tech" games any more or less physical than the most popular toys of the 70's? According to The Toy Retailers Association, the most popular toys of the 70's ranged from toy guns and dolls to Lego and the Mastermind board game. Those toys hardly inspire thoughts of children spending Christmas Day in the great outdoors on their choppers and spacehoppers.

The reality of the situation (which mainstream and local media doesn't seem to like reporting) is that children's eating habits and exercise patterns are dependent on the lifestyle that they are taught by their parents. Surely the fact that kids are eating less healthily and doing less exercise is a sign of parental neglect, rather than evidence that game publishers and advertisers want to fatten up the kids. Not once does this article address the real issue of parental responsibility. But then again, we can hardly see "Parent feeds kid junk food, kid gets fat" hitting the headlines.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Grudge @ Dec 28th 2005 12:13PM

I agree that it is a parent's responsibility to teach their children what to eat and what not to eat. That doesn't change the fact that running around for hours with a toy gun is certainly more physically active than playing a videogame.

So, while videogames aren't the cause, there's certainly more physical laziness involved by default - it's the nature of the medium.

Sjohn @ Dec 28th 2005 12:24PM

"publishers and advertisers want to fatten up our kids"

Soylent Green!!! Don't eat the Soylent Green!!!

Anyways, on a more serious note, I'm obese, I do play video games, but my problem is more related to metabolism/thyroid issues. I exercise more than most people that I know, I eat less and better foods than they do, however I slowly lose weight. I've been the same weight for well over 5 years, that's kind of impressive since I'm only 20. I've lost fat, but gained in height, so it ends up being roughly the same weight.

If anything is to blame, it's the polution and steriods in our foods and water.

bearattack @ Dec 28th 2005 12:40PM

Yes so do chips, chocolate, pizza. Its not the games its the lack of physical activity. Wait untill were halfway through this generation, with the revolutions new controler kids will have one huge arm, with fat bellys, nerdy glasses from watching huge widescreens, they will speak in toungs or with a keyboard. And at age 5 they will be ready operate most of the worlds new military technology. This will come in handy when darwins hunch backs return to recapture earth in a battle for evolution. See revolution vs evolution. Like a snake eating its tail.

Rocket Punch @ Dec 28th 2005 1:19PM

Bingo! I think we've found a solution to the 3rd world's child hunger problem. All thanks to the video game industry!

recklessgemini @ Dec 28th 2005 1:30PM

most gamers wish to have a body like mine

mini.boss @ Dec 28th 2005 3:09PM

These stories are so stupid. Take a real poll on how many non-gamer fat kids are out there and make a comparison. Kids are getting fat because of the lack of parental involvement in their diets, the ease of obtaining fast foods and their own laziness.

But then nobody will ever address those issues. Its much easier to blame games so thats the stories we'll hear.

gh0st @ Dec 28th 2005 3:20PM

Man, I ashamed to be a gamer. First, our "publications" run rampant with kids who got booted from English and never even heard of journalism. Now, I know that you have the benefit that most of your readers are going to just eat this up, but every now and then someone is actually going to read the article. You utterly and apparently without shame completely misrepresent a quote of personal opinion...oh I know you just missed the "I fear that" in your cut-n-paste...as a core thesis of the piece.

Second, where the @#$% is this "responsibility factor" you keep throwing at me and other parents when it comes to ones self? Report: video games encourage fatness.

Hmm, about as controversial as "most lawn grass is green." However, everyone chucks out thousands of words trying to dispute it. Jesus, if you play games all the time and don't exercise, you are gonna be a fat @$$. This FACT is somehow dependant on or even remotely related to parenting skills? Most of the posters seem to lack the fundamental concept of "the point." Yah, I don't have Wacko-Jack embarrasing my cause, but I do have droves and droves of finger pointers, disassemblers, distoritionists, baiters, flamers, the deluded, blame dodgers, the common sense impared, alarmists...hey wait, how is that different from Wacko-Jack?

Scythe @ Dec 28th 2005 3:30PM

huh? are you saying that it is the parents fault or it's the games fault.

I take Martial Arts, I have about 30 friends there that Play video games. We are not fat or lazy we just get out and do stuff other then live on a controller. Parents take their kids to class and it gives them something to do, but if the parent wouldn't take the kids they wouldn't come to class. So it's the parents choice to let their kids be healthy or fat and lazy.

MOM! BRING ME MY DAm# MotherF^cking Milk! MOM!

That's what's wrong with the kinds today. Some of you my remember when that kid screamed and cursed his mom out over x-box Live and someone recorded it. It's parents fault the kids are this way.

Fezmid @ Dec 28th 2005 4:50PM

Yes, we all know it's a parental thing. However, one of the big keys is that parents are too scared to let their kids play outside nowadays. When I was a kid, I was forced outside (I did a fair share of video games and programming as well...) I walked to friends' houses, played street hockey, football, etc. Today, parents are afraid of sexual predators so try wrapping their kids in bubble wrap to "protect" them. If they can't play outside, what else are they going to do? Play video games (or watch TV).

On top of that, our world is moving MUCH faster than it was just 15-20 years ago. When I was a kid, we ate a homecooked dinner 95% of the time. Nowadays, fast food (and restaurants) are king due to lack of time. That's not entirely the parents fault, but it definately is a problem.

Kat @ Dec 28th 2005 5:58PM

I must admit gh0st, I don't get your "point".

Are you saying that a parent is not responsible for the personal habits of the child?

You said "where the @#$% is this "responsibility factor" you keep throwing at me and other parents when it comes to ones self?"

Does that mean you don't feel a parent should be responsible for their child? That's the statement that throws me off.

I am a parent, I have three step-children. We do pay attention to what our kids do. The fact that I am a gamer actually helps in situations like that because I understand what the kids are doing when it comes to games and tech.

Also, if we see that our kids are spending too much time playing games or watching tv, we step in and get them to do something else. You know, like a parent is supposed to do, take care of their kids.

It's not that hard to say "You're spending too much time on that thing, shouldn't you do something else?" or maybe actually go out and do something with them yourself.

It's not a videogames fault that kids are becoming obese, parents are supposed to look out for them.

That includes making sure that they're not doing something like spending three days in front of a tv non-stop, as well as making sure they eat right and get to school on time.