Are video games the cause of violence and obesity with children?

there's probably some link there, jenintn. however, the gizmo called video games is not all to blame for obese children. even if they (children) indulge in long hours of playing video games, if they have correct and proper eating habits, i think no problem will ensue. moreover, early education of what's healthy and what's and proper upbringing can countervail violent tendencies and overeating.

Partially right I would say but I think Parents should be one to supervised their children not to overplay video games and well do some punishment and reward for their sakes. I mean we can't really deny how many video games industries are already launching to have profit in children playing their games. The world wouldn't care as technology grows. This topic could also relate the "Advance Technology = Lazy People".

I don't think video games cause obesity in children. It's the parents fault for not turning off the video game and making the children get up and do something that is active. I do think that video games can be very mesmerizing for children and could possible cause violence and aggression.

I think yes, but not entirely 'cause there's also television, movies and news that children watches. But for me, it's more of the lack of a parent's guidance. Nowadays, parents tends to use video games and all those hi-tech toys to entertain their children when they're busy with work and so, everyday children play and get influenced by the violence that they see on the videos and some times they get so into the game and they loses track of their eating time. Other children become obese 'cause they don't do any healthy exercise except sit in front of their TVs and play video while they almost forget to eat. I believe everything can be balanced with just the right guidance and self discipline. Ciao!

I haven't ever given this any thought. It might be because I don't have any children but I'm sure as far as the obesity part, they might be bad for them. I can remember when children, especially boys, preferred to be outdoors playing sports rather than staying in the house so much. They got more exercise this way. I'm also pretty certain that video games are the cause of so much violence. Kathy.

I do think extensive video game playing is bad for children and parents need to learn when to turn the game off and make their children play, preferrably outdoors. Not only do I think video game playing promotes violence and is a factor in child obesity, look what the kids are losing out on, the advantages of baseball, basketball, soccer, etc. I don't have any kids, but if I did, I really don't think we'd have a video game in the house.

Great Post.. I am an advid gamer and so are my children. I don't believe that video games are bad at all. If anything they really teach kids critical thinking skills(not violent games of course). I also believe that you must engage in gaming with moderation. Children need some exercise as well. There are parents that over schedule their children with sports and competitions with unrealistic expectations. To be honest I think that the #1 cause of obesity is the food that we eat. You can blame part of it on junk food, but to be honest you really have to look at all the antibiotics and growth hormones that they are putting into the animals that we are eating. Change your diet add more fruits and vegetables.

Well, I know that when I am online and find something I like I am on for hours and hours and I don't even realize it. I think this same thing happens with children and their video games. Children need exercise and positive imput. I don't think video games give kids much of either. I have heard of some horrible ones.

I think that this is definitely a huge contributing factor! There is so much violence portrayed in these games now that it's very easy for youngsters to try and copy what they see in these video games. Children are very impressionable at such a young age and I think it's dangerous for them to be introduced to these games. In terms of obesity I guess when they are playing games twenty four seven they are not exercising, well only their fingers by pressing the buttons on the controller constantly! There should be a balance and parents should be quite authorititive when it comes to gaming time. Andrew

Hi Jen, are you away for this research? I think it is not the video games alone, it is much to do with eating habits and taking excessive of food that contain fat. But also fat is a winner http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8p209Cgy_cg&feature=topvideos don't you agree?

I think that they are OK in moderation. If the kids have a time limit and they stick to it and also go outside regularly to get some fresh air and exercise, then that is fine. When I was a kid in the 1980's I had an Atari system and used to play it fairly regularly but I was also outside skateboarding all the time too. Some games these days are certainly more violent than when I was growing up though, but there are some good choices. We have a Playstation and a Nintendo Wii as well. The Playstation does not get used these days as the Wii is more popular with our kids right now. This is good as the Nintendo Wii involves being active with most games and some of them are quite a workout. I certainly get a sweat up playing some of them! The Nintendo games that my son likes are less violent than his old Playstation ones too, although they were not even that bad.

I think that video games are gone totally in the wrong direction, depriving youth from the ability to create and yes leading them and brain washing them in to violence. I think is another variation for the "coach potato" status.

Not all video games are bad. I myself got a little addicted to it but it also helps me on my thinking ability and my problem solving capability. That is the good side of it. It also relieves one from stress. Just dont overdo and abuse it. At least make it balance.

It is not exactly like this if we allow childrens to play by rationalisation meanns they should be allowed for few days in a week in place of daily basis. I am allowing only to play during school winter and summer holidays, remaining days not at all. Initialy it is tough to get them agree but some stickness also makes them understand to play as allowed otherwise that will also go. On computer also i allows for three days in a week with making them clear that during that period they should not watch TV. If allowed much it can lead to violence too as full time they will be thinking about same and will try to react in thier day to day activity so it is required to allow kids playing video games in control.

i am a parent too, and i have a four year old son who plays video games. he is not obese and not violent as well. so my perception is it all depends if the video games of the children is hand picked by the parents. and if the children are well guided by parents then there is no violence and obesity caused by too much video games. i have two nephews that are playing violent video games and they are violent. cant blame them they have violent parents as well that always fight.

I think video games are not bad for children. It only becomes bad when we let our kids spend too much time playing video games and when we do not choose well the type of games we let our kids play. It's very easy to get addicted to video games because they are really so much fun, but we should teach children moderation.

To tell you the truth I couldn't help but laughing when I read the title of the discussion . The cause of violence and obesity amongst children is not only one. Children learn from everything, from their parents, from tv, from their neighbours, from their school mates, from videogames... if parents show an improper behaviour, children learn it. If kids at school bully the weak kids, they learn that they have to bully or be bullied. The list is really long, but videogames can't be blamed for the kids behaviour. About obesity, the fault is more the parent's one, as they don't teach their kids to eat properly and let them eat any kind of sweet stuff and no veggies at all

I think it is partly responsible for their health and behavior, especially if the games they're playing contain fighting and violence. I think the best games for them to play are the ones that involve real interaction with other kids in the neighborhood.

Probably I guess that video games really bad to our children coz' what they seen can be a "mean" to them. But not only video games can be cause of their violence sometimes it could be parents quarrel, or maybe what they see on other kids on school, that possibly can change his/her behavior because of the influence around him/her. So we should always take care and guide our children to righteousness...

i think video games are bad for children who spend most of the day behind it. Some games can be educating and ofc 2 hours playing a game foir a kid can be fun and relaxing, but when a kid spends like 7hours or more on a videogames/games its not healthy anymore. It also depends on the type of kids ofc but ya i seen a lot of little kids who really chanced ever since they got a console computer. They have no social lives and at school they are pretty violent if someone says something bad they hit them etc. Its al part of the gameworld and then imagine a parent taking the game away because the kid does bad on school they totally freak out curse the parent hit stuff against the wall. So ya i think games are bad influence on a kid if it spends to much time behind it