Video Games vs TV: The Battle Against Overweight

The average American watches more than 4 hours of TV each day.  That is 28 hours/week, or 2 months of nonstop TV-watching per year. In a 65-year life, that person will have spent 9 years glued to the tube.

We’re recommended to keep our kids on a maximum of 2 hours of screen time each day. Is it really equivalent, to watch TV and play video games?

A just released Swedish study shows that there is a big difference. They studied children and found that computer time or video games time had no effect on the children’s weight. TV time or even spending time in a room with the TV on had a very clear link with overweight in the studied children.

The theory is  that  video games and even chatting requires much more activity. TV on the other hand is very passive and it is dangerously easy to snack in front of the TV.

This is of course not only valid for children. Have you every tired to turn on the Nintendo Wii at night instead of collapsing on the couch?  Try a boxing game or skiing on the Wii Fit. You’ll have a totally different experience.

This is probably one of the reasons that the Wii gaming platform has become so popular.

Other great Positive Effects of Video Games are:

1. Playing video games demands an interactive involvement of the players

2. Many video games involve reading

3. Video games practices problem solving, planning and analysis

4. Playing video games stimulates imagination

5. Video games practices multi-tasking and fine motor skills

Turn out kids who play video games mainly do so with friends and they stand up for each other.

Sounds like video games have more benefits that we first thought.

Image by: http://www.flickr.com/photos/robfahey/ / CC BY-SA 2.0

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