Effects of Video Games Obesity

The years of teenage angst are usually filled with puppy love, breakups and puberty. But with today’s generation super sizing every meal, it seems that obesity is one more stressor on the list. In addition to adding hundreds of unnecessary calories to already unhealthy diets, this generation is saying goodbye to exercise and welcoming new habits: video games.

Before the time of wireless internet and even television, obesity was not as wide spread. In the past twenty years, obesity has almost doubled in the United States. As a result, many children are already battling diabetes and high blood pressure. This is a horrifying realization, as adolescents are signing up for a life of illness, stress and depression. If obesity begins at an early age, how easy will it be to put an end to the disease.

Though the video game obesity debate is controversial, many think these couch potato games are killing productivity and of course, adding on the pounds. Common sense tells us that if we do not engage in exercise and continue to eat junk food, our weight is going to sky rocket. With video games being an addictive hobby, it becomes an unstoppable cycle. Even still, it seems that the video game world is trying to conquer this issue. New games such as Wii Fit are popping up on store shelves, allowing adolescence and adults alike to start exercising and attempt a healthier lifestyle. From Pilates to aerobics and balance games – Wii Fit has something for everyone. Just don’t have time to hit the gym but want a new figure? Looking for an exciting way to exercise? Wii Fit is looking to decrease obesity and motivate the generation to get fit. The beauty of this game is that it initially calculates your BMI, tracks your fitness level and checks overall balance. Though it’s critical that you take the BMI calculation with a grain of salt, it will continue to show your progress.

Whether or not teenagers play video games, the effects of a sedentary lifestyle are overwhelming. Obesity often increases the risk of breast cancer, arthritis, diabetes, as well as heart disease. Furthermore, it can cause liver disease, poor blood circulation and severe stress. Despite the fact that teenagers may not see these effects immediately, obesity is constantly lurking around the corner. According to HealthLink.mcw.edu, “obesity counts for over 300,000 premature deaths in the United States.” If we were to promote this statistic in health classes, perhaps adolescents would stop and think about the harsh effects of video games, poor eating and limited exercise. It is imperative that we stop obesity in our children before it’s too late. Perhaps nipping it in the butt early will prevent thousands of deaths to come.