Posts tagged obesity 
White House courts devs to make healthy eating games
In a video presentation at the Game Developers Choice Awards, White House chief technology officer Aneesh Chopra discussed the Apps for Healthy Kids project, a plan to encourage game developers to collaborate with government to work against childhood obesity. The latest component, an Apps for Hea...
LGJ: And still, they want to take away our games
Each week Mark Methenitis contributes Law of the Game on Joystiq ("LGJ"), a column on legal issues as they relate to video games: As of late, it seems I've become sort of a policy spokesman for issues concerning the government intervening in the game industry, especially in the wake of my debate ...
Vector City Racers aims to combat childhood obesity
Childhood obesity is a big problem in the US, and Vector Entertainment and the Childhood Obesity Foundation are teaming up to try and do something about it. Enter Vector City Racers, a casual multiplayer online game and community that seeks to teach kids aged six to twelve about eating healthily. ...
UK Government targets gaming industry for anti-obesity program
No, ever-vigilant commenters, this is not a double post -- just further proof that the rest of the civilized world thinks that gamers are a bunch of Cheeto dust-coated fatties. As part of the UK Department of Health's £372 million action plan to reduce obesity, the UK government will work wit...
New Mexico legislators consider video game tax for outdoor programs
The mainstream media and other non-consumers of video games have been portraying gamers as pasty, bleary-eyed shut-ins since the 8-bit days -- aside from some bruised feelings, that stereotype never really did us any harm. However, a recent proposal of the powerful environmental organization The Si...
UK McDonald's chief blames game industry for obesity
We're used to scientists, the government and even beverage companies taking the game industry to task for contributing to the childhood obesity epidemic. But now there's a new, even more unlikely source using gaming as an obesity scapegoat -- McDonald's. Talking to the London Times, McDonald's UK ch...
British Medical Journal study: Wii Sports doesn't replace exercise
A British Medical Journal study finds UK gamers playing Wii only used 2% more energy than gamers of other consoles. Obviously the UK study needed the US version of WiiFit with Jackie Warner, she'll push them from 2 -- no crying. The BBC reports on the most "captain obvious" qualities of the report...
Beverage companies blame video games for obesity
On Monday, San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom submitted a proposal that he hopes will curtail obesity by applying a financial deterrent to drinks with high fructose corn syrup - in other words, a surcharge on soda. (Amount of surcharge has yet to be defined.) Understandably aggravated by this measure...
Health insurance + video games = "medutainment"?
In a trend being somewhat sickeningly referred to as "medutainment" health insurers are increasingly trying to educate their customers on healthy living through video games, reports AIS Health Business Daily. Humana is working with USC's GamePipe Labs to create games about exciting topics like "diab...
