The Big, Fat and Depressed Gaming Society
GameStooge has uncovered details from a report that was originally kept secret until Midnight on the 18th, and it makes claims that gamers are insular, overweight, depressed 35 year olds. The study was based on 552 adults in the Seattle metro area and was published in the October issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Taken from GameStooge:
Slightly less than half (45.1%) of the respondents played games, and the study claims to show that female gamers are more depressed than non-gamers, and male gamers tend to have a higher BMI and use the Internet more than non-gamers.
But when you look at the actual data, the differences aren’t as extreme as you might think. For example, male gamers have an average BMI of 28.05 while non gamers score a 26.55. You can imply that gamers are less fit than non gamers, but BOTH scores are in the same “Overweight” category on BMI charts but below the 30 mark which identifies “Obese”.
To put it in relative terms, you’re looking at the difference between Homer Simpson and Krusty the Clown.
The full article was under embargo until Midnight on the 18th, but details on the full report are obtainable here. Whilst the report was only based on data from 552 people all living in the same location, a report on 552 gamers from different places in the world have perhaps reported different findings. Does this go to show that only Seattle have big fat depressed gamers or are you indeed a hefty lump of lard on an Xbox360 yourself?
Share your thoughts.
Source: GameStooge
So it took a study to come to the conclusion that if you sit on a couch most of the day doing nothing but moving your thumbs for exercise you will weigh more then someone that doesn’t sit all day playing video games and instead is probably doing something that is more active!
Wow! Damn good thing they did that study for all us idiots that couldn’t have figured that one out ourselves!!!
In other words, “YOU THINK”
I’m gonna have to agree with steve there and also add that not only am I an avid gamer, I go to the gym daily and have a life. This article isn’t BS, but it doesn’t take much to go out and be active for an hour or 2 a day. Americans are just generally fat and depressed anyway
Argh… that pic… I’m blind! I’M BLIND!!!
Untrue. Trust me, I’ve seen Brits who look like they live on Malomars and need a dolly to cart their fat around. When you’re obsessive about a hobby that requires you to sit around all day, that’s going to have a negative health effect.
Yeah I am from the UK (medium average build, toned) and I only ever see fat british people when I go on holiday. I feel ashamed when I go on excursions because all the foreign people can only ever see big fat british people wading around and then me on the end…
Guys, ever heard about aerobics and spinning?!
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again - gaming does not make people depressed, people play games BECAUSE they are depressed. It’s an escape just like any other, and can become unhealthy when done too much.
I’m a skinny sexy beast…
on a PS3.
Maybe that’s the difference.
PS3 = hot sexy people, in shape and loving life.
360 = losers. BIG FAT LOSERS!
Well they got the depressed thing right!
Time for Wii Fit!
Okay I resent that remark!!!! (Typing from the U.S.A.)
I found a great pic to represent this story…if you guys only saw what other pics came up in my search LOL
I’ll also note that of course people from Seattle are fucking depressed… look at their weather patterns.
I used Stan from the World of Warcraft episode. That was a better pic :p