Games make kids fat, nympho chain-smoking alcoholics

by Ross Miller { Apr 5th 2006 at 4:55PM }

NewScientist.com, "The World's No. 1 Science & Technology News Service" (with somewhat of a predilection to articles on obesity), have reported on a new study purporting that television and video game exposure "should be viewed as a major public health issue and, like cigarettes, these media should come with a health warning"). In fact, such excess childhood exposure can "increase obesity, tobacco and alcohol use, risky sexual behaviours, violence and social isolation." Let us analyze all of the article's assertions and findings:

These media should come with a health warning. We could have sworn television, film, and video games have done this before.

The data linking violent media to aggression are "just as strong" as those linking smoking and lung cancer. In my experience I have seen just as many studies refuting the claim as supporting it (and some of those studies supporting the link are a tad questionable) ... so maybe what the article is actually saying is that there is only a 50% chance cigarettes could kill you. Besides, wouldn't the tobacco industry want its customers to stay alive and smoking?

More after the jump.

Toddlers who watch more than two hours of television a day are more likely to be overweight at ages 3 and 4-and-a-half. Translation: the characters you watch on TV are coming out of the screen and shoving delicious, sugary treats down your throat -- pay no mind that Mom has stocked the pantry with Pop Tarts and eschewed buying carrots and celery ... could the real link be the amount of time said fat kid is not outside playing sports or running around?

Playing a violent rather than a benign video game makes children more accepting of using drugs or alcohol, and having sex without a condom, because, the researchers suggest, it increases general disregard for the safety of yourself and others. There seems to be a logical fallacy in that statement -- as if they are jumping to conclusions. Video games are being accused of increasing "disregard for the safety of yourself and others." Those who use drugs and have unprotected sex also show a general disregard for personal safety; however, note the diagram to the right -- although drugs and violent video games may be both found to cause the same disposition, they do not imply that one is a causation of another.

According to Sonya Brady at the University of California at San Francisco, "what this suggests is that if you’re exposed to media violence, you might just jump to the conclusion that they’re out to get you." She is right, but the "they" in question looks more like sensationalist propaganda with political agendas than concerned citizens -- we are not disputing that the claims could be true, but we just do not trust the research and reasoning behind their assertions.

See Also:
Country music causes suicide
Less Pirates = Global Warming

[Thanks, Ryan]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

WhiteTigerShiro @ Apr 5th 2006 5:11PM

That's the problem with studies. Anyone can do a study on anything, and it's easy to tilt the results in favor of your funder if you know how to do it. The problem is that they take about 100 people (usually less), then assume that the same applies to the millions upon millions of other people out there.

I remember back in school, just after columbine. I was listening to the radio, and they said that in a survey of 1,000 students, about X% of them felt safe in school. I heard that, and I looked over at my dad and said "Wow, that survey wouldn't have even covered my school."

I mean really... it's great that they managed to survey 1,000 students, but it just doesn't mean squat when that number doesn't even fill the roster of a single school. What about the tens-of-thousands of other schools out there?

vidGuy @ Apr 5th 2006 5:19PM

You know, this is a great post. RM's commentary is right in line with the ACTUAL issue. Let's see, I can understand how excessive video games and tv could make you fat... if it's all you do in addition to eating. Most gamers and tv viewers, on the other hand, have a LIFE which involves movement, so a little tv or video games isn't going to hurt you.

The fact of the matter is tv viewing or video game playing is correlated to obesity. Correlation is not causation, as everybody should know. Trying to prove otherwise is futile.

Now, on the matter of safety concerns, it all boils down to the parents. If a parent plops his kid down in front of the tv instead of attempting to be a parent, sure the media has a measurable effect. But with parental involvement, nobody will "train" on video games and tv to be a cold blooded killer. Ever. I've grown up with video games all my life and I'm actually studying to put those people in jail, not to be one.

pete @ Apr 5th 2006 5:25PM

As a fat, tobacky-tokin, 40-chuggin, one-night-stand-lovin', murderer/loner, I can attest to the validity of this study. Those two plumbers are responsible for all my, and by extension, society's woes. Duck Hunt? Try GANGSTER GUN. Don't even get me started on Leisure Suit Larry.

boots @ Apr 5th 2006 5:27PM

WhiteTigerShiro:

The likeliness of the results on this "studies" are unlikely to be much different if they asked a million people to answer that (although it's possible).

Nonetheless, what's questionable is not the amount of people in the survey, but rather, the "logic" in this one. It's like saying: "Global warming has been steadily climbing since the number of pirates started steadily declining! These events *must* be related somehow!".

They are trying to make videogames seem as the "cause", rather than the consequence. I'm not saying it's false, I'm saying it's probably wrong, and that it is not a rigorous analysis. So much that there are studies that prove that games make you *less* violent, and me and some of my friends are examples of that.

Videogames are some of the best things to ever happen to my life, and I'm sure that's the same to many other gamers.

David @ Apr 5th 2006 5:27PM

I have an idea. Why don't we just make these laws that would help people stay away from bad things in the media? Yeah, we could hire a really cool guy to help tell us what we should and shouldn't be watching, playing, or reading. That way we all win. Oh wait, what's that you say? Every person is different and reacts differently to messages in the media? It's up to PARENTS to regulate what their children can and can't handle?

Seriously. Are you telling me that every kid who plays video games will react the same way? How do videogames influence unprotected sex? I am not an animal; I make my own decisions. I'm sick of hearing about how videogames are the root of every bad decision some kid makes. They do nothing to you, there is no health risk. If a child is not mature enough to play a certain game, read a certain book, watch a certain movie then the parents should regulate that. We already have the systems in place.

These studies may as well be some guy's opinion. They prove nothing and they treat people as though they can't avoid running into a wall. Quit living under that rock and join us in the 21st century.

Tesa @ Apr 5th 2006 5:36PM

Games made me a fat, nympho chain-smoking alcoholic. It also made me smoke meth and eat doody for 3 dollars. It also caused every problem that I've ever had in life, for the only thing that could possibly effect me to become fat is not that I ate too much, but that I played video games. The fact that I bought the cigarettes in the store didn't make me a chain smoker, it was the video game that made me do it. the video game made me drink the alcohol. The video game made me do it. I am controlled by it and I'm glad a study finally came out that said it. I guess i can go on a rampage like gta, and then finally I can blame the game too.

(F'ing ridiculous)

epobirs @ Apr 5th 2006 5:46PM

I'm confused. Playing video games will make me fat, smelly, and drunk but I'll still have opportunities for unprotected sex. With a woman, I presume.

I get to be utterly repugnant and get laid? This is fabulous! No singles bar on the planet can compare to this. More video games for me, please!

Shawn @ Apr 5th 2006 5:55PM

Whoa. ToeJam and Earl = Best game ever created.
You have to love taking that jetpack south off of that one island and hanging out with the babes in the hot tub.

Kazi @ Apr 5th 2006 6:02PM

One time I tried to cover myself in radioactive toxic goo to turn me into a giant lizard to tear down an entire city. I have 3 types of cancer, never turned into a giant lizard and am now well on my way to death. THANK YOU Rampage for RUINING MY LIFE. I wish they had placed a warning inside the game to prevent me from thinking it was a good idea to roll around in toxic goo to transform into a giant mutant. They have warnings on hot cups of coffee, what makes video games any different?

That's brilliant! "Warning: Beating the crap out of a hooker, stealing her pimp's car and running him over with it will get you arrested and is down right detestable, do not try this at hom... anywhere."

crummy @ Apr 5th 2006 6:10PM

Joystiq recieves +5 Awesome points for having Toejam & Earl as the picture for this article. -1 for being of TJ&E3.

Grim @ Apr 5th 2006 6:26PM

If video games have made me lose weight, not gain it. I will usually play for so long that I forget to eat, and skip eating snacks altogether. This also causes me to drink a lot of pop. Overall, it may not be healthy, but it keeps me at a skinny weight.

mwahaha @ Apr 5th 2006 7:47PM

These guys lucked out. I became a sewer/castle dwelling, fat, Italian plumber.

Chris Wilkerson @ Apr 5th 2006 8:42PM

*NEWS FLASH*

People who wear clothes are more proned to "increase obesity, tobacco and alcohol use, risky sexual behaviours, violence and social isolation!

Please alert your neighbor as this is becoming an epic as menacing as the babonic plague.

Tony @ Apr 5th 2006 11:40PM

I'm surprised a "science" site is claiming there's as much of a link between games/violence and smoking/lung cancer. One has actual, factual, indisputible proof while the other, well, doesn't.

troc 59 @ Apr 6th 2006 12:25AM

A fat,sweaty little troll camped out in his bedroom in the cellar swilling warm beer he filched from his big brother while parading around in crusty shorts,all the while spanking his monkey to the bongo beat of Donkey Konga-yup, that's a classic description of a NINTENDO FAN BOY! Us other gamers [PC,SONY,MICROSOFT]are all much too dignified for that lifestyle! lol lol lol!!

TheBlunderbuss @ Apr 6th 2006 6:08AM

I play videogames.
I'm underweight.
I laugh at them.

The_Predator @ Apr 6th 2006 8:09AM

Chain-smoking nympho here. I blame my high metabolism and high exposure to alcohol victims for my lack of results in the other areas. I'll be sure to keep trying, keep my sights set on ticking those boxes.

Brute @ Apr 6th 2006 9:49AM

Wow i think this is great. Since they believe in this so much, then they should have to type their report on a typewritter. A monitor and computer would make them fat. And distribute it only through books and printed material since TV and Internet would just make the problem worse. Oh wait, if you are reading a book you are not outside. I'm not sure how they should distribute it. Anyone out there have a healthy suggestion? :-)

Sam @ Apr 6th 2006 10:13AM

Actually, youth violence has been steadily declining since the PS1 launched in America. I forget where, but a study found that game consoles in prisons actually lowered prison violence dramatically. Put that in your soy-cigar and smoke it, New Scientist.

Gonzo @ Apr 6th 2006 1:43PM

What turned me into a chain smoking alcoholic was the fact that there are so many idiots out there who feel that they have a right to dictate what I find entertaining.