Gamers as unhealthy as 60-Year Chain Smokers

• Kurezan wrote on 2010-06-15 08:55
  Top gamers as unhealthy as 60-year-old chain smokers - Yahoo! Canada News
  
  

  Video gaming may be emerging as the next big professional sport, but according to one British scientist its stars remain woefully unfit in comparison to their conventional counterparts.
  
  Dr. Dominic Micklewright from the University of Essex conducted a set of physiological and psychological tests aimed at comparing elite gamers to professional athletes. He found that the gamers often had the reflexes of fighter pilots, but were disturbingly unhealthy.
  
  One top gamer appeared to be a healthy man in his twenties, but tests revealed that he had the fitness level of a 60-year-old chain smoker.
  
  "Someone of this age should be much fitter but perhaps this is the occupational hazard of the professional gamer who can spend around 10 hours per day in front of a computer screen practicing," said Dr. Micklewright.
  
  "It is always difficult to say how these things will develop, but it could have long-term health implications such as an increased risk of heart disease."
  
  The news was not all bad however. While the leading gamers failed to display the fitness of regular athletes, they did display some of the other positive side effects of competition.
  
  "Elite athletes have unusually high levels of positive feelings and low levels of negative feelings such as depression and fatigue. We saw similar characteristics in gamers, albeit not quite as pronounced," said Dr. Micklewright.
  
  That's good news for gamers and parents alike because the popularity of computer and console games is clearly here to stay.
  
  In South Korea, where gaming is often referred to as the national sport, professional gamers can earn six-figure salaries and travel the world for free. Gaming has become such big business there, especially Blizzard Entertainment's 'Starcraft,' that match-fixing has emerged as a serious problem.
  
  Just recently, 16 people, 11 of them pro gamers, were indicted in South Korea in connection with the fixing of several 'Starcraft' matches.
  
  'Starcraft' is so popular in South Korea that matches are often televised.
  
  But the success of gaming is by no means limited to Asia. Major League Gaming has been holding events in a Canada since 2008, with prize pools in the tens of thousands.
  
  And professional gaming will likely only gain in popularity in North America as a new generation of children with no memory of a time before the Internet comes of age.
  
  The University of British Columbia has even begun running a gaming summer camp for children - and it certainly isn't aimed at athletes.
  
  "If sports aren't your thing but you still want to get out this summer and try new things and meet new people, this is your chance," says the UBC website. "Come test your gaming skills in our new arcade."
  
  With young people spending an average of six hours per day in front of screens already, the camp has drawn criticism from health experts.
  
  And there is no doubt that excessive gaming can have disastrous health results; as anybody who has seen the famous 'Make love, not Warcraft' episode of 'South Park' can attest.
  
  Only 12 per cent of Canadian children currently get enough exercise, according to Active Healthy Kids Canada. Many popular video games now display warnings suggesting a player take a break or go outside after prolonged play to encourage young people to stay active.
  
  Prof. Micklewright argues that gaming must be balanced with physical activity to avoid negative health outcomes.
  
  "Screen time with children has a very strong correlation with childhood obesity and risk factors with heart disease later in life."

• Sleeperdial wrote on 2010-06-15 09:57
  Bull Crap I spend 6 hours a day in front of this thing and I'm not only healthy I'm muscular.
• Axx wrote on 2010-06-15 09:58
  Sounds like they just did a fitness test, like run for 10 minutes and check your heart rate or something. Should've done bloodwork, like measure cholesterol levels, BMI, etc. For that matter, you could probably take an average office worker who "looks healthy" and unless they work out you'd get similar results.
• Tedio wrote on 2010-06-15 10:05
  can chain smokers even live past 60? BS
• Taycat wrote on 2010-06-15 10:08
  I'm unhealthy....:D
  
  That's because I have weight issues.
• Tedio wrote on 2010-06-15 10:25

  Quote from Xiyamae;64950:

  I'm unhealthy....:D
  
  That's because I have weight issues.

  
  
  but I really doubt your like a 60yr old chain smoker.
• Sarinii wrote on 2010-06-15 12:32
  Psh. My BMI is within the ideal range for my age and height, and my fitness age is the same as my physical age. I know this through my WiiFit. HA! IRONY.
  
  I play for 4+ hours a day, but i certainly don't see myself as unfit. Your fitness/health depends on other factors outside of gaming too >.>
• Fumy wrote on 2010-06-15 12:53
  Over kill much?Maybe thats true for 1 or 2 ppl but seriously D: I sit on my comp like 6 hours a day and I'm pretty athletic ._.
• Hiccup wrote on 2010-06-15 21:34
  This story is a farce!
• Chockeh wrote on 2010-06-15 21:38
  82% Canadian children not being fit is not related to video games D<.
  It's cause of fast food and drugs D<.
• Hiccup wrote on 2010-06-15 21:39
  I'm pretty athletic and I smoke, you just have to balance it out
• Chockeh wrote on 2010-06-15 21:40

  Quote from bradstrt;65442:

  I'm pretty athletic and I smoke, you just have to balance it out

  
  I'm a ex-smoker and it really made a difference D<.
  No wonder you suck at basketball.
• Hiccup wrote on 2010-06-15 21:45
  I don't even play, that's the problem lol. I can play around the world that bout it, oh and stand in front of the basket and block 8D
  
  I run though and I dun have too many problems breathing
• Chockeh wrote on 2010-06-15 21:47

  Quote from bradstrt;65451:

  I don't even play, that's the problem lol. I can play around the world that bout it, oh and stand in front of the basket and block 8D
  
  I run though and I dun have too many problems breathing

  
  Smoking affects your stamina owo.
• Hiccup wrote on 2010-06-15 21:49
  5 miles a day orz