Study: Hungry or Not, Videogames Make You Eat
Study: Hungry or Not, Videogames Make You Eat
Posted 04/19/2011 at 8:14am
| by Paul Lilly
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It stands to reason that if you sit around all day playing videogames and not much of anything else, you're going to put on some weight. That much is obvious, but according to a new study, the lack of physical exertion isn't the only reason why frequent gamers pack on the pounds. The study found that playing games compels people to eat more, even when they're not hungry.
Teenage subjects of the Canadian-Danish study, which was published last week in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, spent an hour sitting in a comfortable chair, and on a separate occasion spent an hour playing a videogame, the National Post reports. Here's where things get interesting. After a round of gaming, the subjects consumed an average of 80 calories more at a pasta lunch. That might not sound like much, but according to Dr. Jean-Philippe Chaput, the study's lead author, an additional 50 calories per day adds up to 62 pounds over 10 years.
"It's a worse story than just being a sedentary activity," said Dr. Chaput. "When we play videogames, yes, we burn few calories, but we also eat more."
Researchers say that one possible reason for this is that the mental exertion from playing a game triggers the need for an edible reward, and these are typically comfort foods high in sugar and fat.
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Founck
April 19, 2011 at 10:17pm
I'm pretty sure that the towel pictured was eating because he was high.
0ly1r3m@1ns
April 19, 2011 at 11:08am
when i watch tv i cant stop eating when i go on my pc i stop and dont eat for a few houra till i realise the time and that im hungry
Ridnarhtim
April 19, 2011 at 10:42am
I tend to find I eat less. I will sometimes come out of an intense gaming session and realise that, in 8 hours since waking up, I haven't eaten anything.
Markkus Rovito
April 19, 2011 at 11:01am
I totally agree. On the occasional days that I allow myself to blow entirely on gaming, I usually have to force myself to eat. We won't get into how putting your body in starvation mode can actually contribute to weight gain, but I definitely consume fewer calories on those days.
Biceps
April 19, 2011 at 10:22am
Oh please. 50 calories is like a carrot stick. The guy had to stretch out the 'results' to cover a period of 10 years just to get a number that might actually mean something.
62 pounds in 10 years? Oh my GOD! That mean that if I keep playing video games for 50 years, I'll gain 310 pounds. I am so ashamed of myself!
Oh, wait. I am in my 30s, have been playing games since I was in college, and have a healthy BMI (body-mass index). The only time I gained weight was when I quit smoking, and that weight is gone now.
Begone, foul and useless study!
Biceps
April 19, 2011 at 7:38pm
Nope. I don't live on Fritos, but I'm not exactly a health nut. I walk about 2 or 3 miles a day as part of my commute, less if it is raining. 50 calories a day is not significant, and you could burn it walking around the block a couple times.
ashrocks98
April 20, 2011 at 3:30am
There's your answer
An average 'fat'(or will become) gamer doesn't normally walk 2-3 miles a day and eats more food as they game along the day, or night. Obviously with that much eating they consume more than an additional 80 calories per meal. Hardcore gamers normally doesn't go to the gym, go outside, or any excercises throughout the day and eats more than an average person does.
How is this study useless? When it shows why really 'Hardcore' gamers are fat?
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