Science Says Gamers Are Fat, Depressed Losers

[The Big Daddy C-Master]

Thoughts?

www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/93968-Science-Says-Gamers-are-Fat-Depressed-Losers



New research by the Centers for Disease Control has found that gamers are depressed, socially-stunted fatties who aren't actually playing games at all but are instead caught up in "imitation play-like activities."

The study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Emory University and Andrews University examined 500 adults aged 19-90, looking at health risks, media use and demographic factors. Respondents classified themselves as either "players" or "non-players," and also provided "self-assessments of depression, personality, health status, physical and mental health, body mass index (BMI), and poor quality of life." An examination of their weekly media usage, including internet, television and, among the 45.1 percent who reported playing them, videogames, was then conducted.

Shockingly, the study found "measurable correlations between videogame playing and health risks." Female gamers reported greater depression and lower health status than female non-players, while males reported higher body mass index and internet usage than male non-gamers. Both men and women also reported a greater reliance on the internet for "social support" than non-gamers.

"Health-risk factors, specifically, a higher BMI and a greater number of poor mental-health days differentiated adult video-game players from non-players," said Dr. James B. Weaver III of the CDC in Atlanta. "Video-game players also reported lower extroversion, consistent with research on adolescents that linked video game playing to a sedentary lifestyle and overweight status, and to mental-health concerns."

Dr. Brian Primrack of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine added his own opinion that videogames are sufficiently different from "original forms of play" that they're better defined as "play-like activities."

"The differences between today's 'play-like activities' and original forms of play may illuminate some of the observed health-related correlates discovered," he said. "How do we simultaneously help the public steer away from imitation play-like activities, harness the potentially positive aspects of video games, and keep in perspective the overall place of video games in our society?"

"There are massive, powerful industries promoting many play-like activities. And industry giants that can afford to will successfully tout the potential benefits of health-related products they develop," he continued. "But who will be left to remind us that for children and adults alike, hide-and-seek and freeze tag are still probably what we need most?"

[The Big Daddy C-Master]

Nov 22, 2015 17:57:43 GMT -5 MGNoxa said:

I see where he's coming from with the "play-like activities" I'm on the chubby side and it's hard to stay in shape when you can play video games but also at the same time it's hard to stay in shape if you choose to read a book, watch tv or whatever. I eat a mix of healthy and unhealthy some days a little bit too much unhealthy but at the same time, I use the rowing machine, go on dog walks as well as a lot of just walking. If I didn't do that my chubby side will turn into fat and then turn into obesity.

As for depression, well I was told by doctors I was suffering from depression during high school but I never felt depressed and they claim I'm not depressed today even though I feel no different than what I did then. Depression hits people differently, some people suffer from depression and don't even know they suffer from it, I guess I was one of them. But again some forms of entertainment attract certain people and it's perfectly understandable that video games attract those that are depressed.

Anyway all of these problems can be associated with any other form of entertainment that isn't physical. People get enjoyment from jogging others from gaming it's just important that people realise running several miles in Fallout hasn't done you any good.

Also who are these non-players? I think that's important to note.

Finally BMI is almost a joke, I can remember when my Science teacher told the class that just because your BMI is under or over doesn't mean your unhealthy, it's different for everyone and depending on your height the BMI scale just doesn't work for you. His BMI was over, doctors told him he needed to lose weight, he said he could probably lose a few pounds but he'd probably beat all of them in a Marathon because he stayed fit. Don't ignore your BMI but if it's over or under just remember that it doesn't necessarily mean you're unhealthy.

I guess final finally the title of the article is so clickbait.

Damn I should probably edit this but one other thing that stuck out to me was the gamers relying on the internet for social support, that feels like such a trick question. Most of my friends are online but I have friends I see in person all the time, yes my best friends are online... "So you need the internet to be social?"

That's why I say to be productive instead of just consuming. It is true that *many* gamers are losers but they're not losers because they play games, most just have no ambition and use games to escape their own problems. As long as people can balance their lives it's fine. I know many gamer types who are depressed who don't move and their situation doesn't improve and it leads to a cycle. I wouldn't isolate gaming into that category. Clubbing, tv, movies, spending money at the mall can all be the same things.

That's I like to produce and create because I get more out of it rather than wasting my time with some score on a screen. You can do creative activities that aren't physical that teach you new skills and get something out of them. For instance a person could learn how to cook or a new language. There are many activities to do without just gaming excessively.

Yea and the BMI is a joke. Health is more complicated than that.

People use the net to be social all the time. I don't see how being on Twitter posting bullshit all day is somehow healthy, lol. That crap is even worse.

[The Big Daddy C-Master]

Nov 22, 2015 18:19:19 GMT -5 MGNoxa said:

Nov 22, 2015 18:10:26 GMT -5 The Big Daddy C-Master said:

It is true that *many* gamers are losers but they're not losers because they play games, most just have no ambition and use games to escape their own problems.

This isn't a bad thing, I also wouldn't call them losers. It's like you said when they get trapped in it. I think calling them losers is really disrespectful, yes many are like this because of their own doing and that could be because they are lazy horrible people or it could be actual mental issues, maybe there's other stuff going on that's made them this way. I just feel uncomfortable calling them losers because the amount of actual losers who are in this are probably about 1% of the total in fact there's probably more losers in the "healthier" side.

Gotta disagree here bro.

You don't think developing an unhealthy habit and not trying to change it is bad? I think it's really bad.

I call people losers when they complain about their life problems and do nothing but sit on their butt and don't change their problems. Whether it's because they want to watch sports instead of doing something with themselves, play video games all day, eat and blame it on others, or any number of things like knocking up their girlfriend and not advancing themselves, or getting knocked up again and again.

Being a loser is a mindset. It can take a number of forms. Being a gamer doesn't make you a loser, but many tend to be because they do nothing with their lives but complain and use games as an avenue to escape. I know many people like that and I grew up with some of them. They're much older now still sitting in mom's basement playing video games and acting like life isn't fair.

If it hurts their feelings that's tough, the truth is the truth and they can't change their life if they run from it and want everyone else to lie about it. That's SJW mentality. It reminds me of the people who are huge and want us to pretend they're swimsuit models.

Being lazy doesn't make you an evil person, but it does stunt yourself and your opportunities in life. Personally I don't care if a person chooses to be a loser, but many of them think they deserve what people who go out and take risks in life earn. If I worked hard you don't deserve it when you didn't want to do anything. Entitlement annoys me.

I'd say it's FAR more than 1% and it's completely avoidable regardless of the behavior is.

[The Big Daddy C-Master]

Nov 22, 2015 18:55:50 GMT -5 MGNoxa said:

Yes not changing is bad, especially when they can change. I just disagree with calling them all "losers" yes some are but if I was to talk to every single one of these people I would probably leave with the majority of the losers being on the healthy side. Our definition of losers may be different but someone that lives a facade is a loser in my book, someone that lives a certain way because it's "cool" or whatever.

I know a loser who is stuck in a hole of depression, I try to get him out of it but I can't do anything because the closer I pull him out the further he falls back in. At the same time I know many losers who go around pretending to be the big dogs showing off and some aren't losers because they are happy with themselves and aren't getting happy by belittling others but some of them are massive losers who live this way because the only way they can be happy is to laugh at those below them. That's a real loser. My friend is a loser because he put himself there but I'd sooner spend all day with him than one of those real losers.

I'm not saying don't call them losers because it will hurt their feelings I'm saying don't call them all losers because I'm pretty sure the majority aren't losers, they're just living bad or stuck their because of stuff out of their control.

Well first and most importantly your friend sounds like he needs a therapist or some psychiatric help. If you are not a trained professional you're not helping him even if you think you are. Friends and family trying to "fix" people often leads to other problems. He should seek help.

I never said "all" of anybody are losers. There are exceptions but they are in the minority. A person being depressed is often a cycle, if they have problems and do nothing about them they're going to be more depressed. Can a person who feels sad just do whatever they want and not take responsibility for it?

It's not just about "gaming". Gaming is a symptom of the problem. The problem is the individual, they're losers.

A person can be a loser and be a:

shopaholic
compulsive gamer
compulsive gambler
in and out of relationships
sit in church and pray for their life to get better
do drugs to escape their problems
go to the club constantly
crank out children left and right
etc.

How can a person not be responsible for not doing something about their life and then complaining about it? They don't want to seek help? They just whine about it? You think the rest of us don't have problems? I grew up dirt poor with nothing and I saw people around me who did nothing with their lives but the aforementioned and have tons of kids and live off of the system, even in my own family. They blamed others for their problems. Nobody forced them to do these things. Not taking responsibility for one's actions is the hallmark of a loser because they can pin their blame on others and feel better about themselves.

Nobody makes a person sit on their butts gaming all day or spending money they don't have. THEY did it and should take responsibility for it, until they face the mirror they'll continue to be losers.

A person can be an asshole and not be a loser. Those are two distinct things. Losers aren't always nice, many of them are petty and resentful people. Look at these SJW's who try to censor attractive women because they are ugly. That's exactly what I'm talking about. A person can be a jerk and be successful or a loser. They don't have a bearing on the other. Chances are a person who has to belittle others to feel better about themselves has self esteem problems themselves. I don't need to feel better about others being a loser because I have my own life to worry about. I'm just calling it what it is.

What do you mean healthy side? People who are creative, well adjusted, and life healthy lives? How are they losers while people who do nothing to improve their lives and complain not responsible for their lives? I think that's part of the problem, the western culture (US, UK, Canada, etc.) has a group of enablers who coddle these people and tell them that it's not their fault and that someone else did it for them. I think people should be held accountable for themselves. This is how the SJW problem got so bad, people catering to these clowns instead of telling them to buzz off.

Being dishonest to be "nice" doesn't help anybody.

Also who a person associates with says a lot about them. I don't want to be around perpetual complainers and people like this because it drags me down and takes focus off of my own life. People who don't want to improve and drag you down are a mental poison. People hang around others like themselves. A person who wants to be fit doesn't hang around lazy people who want to eat. A person who wants to be drug free doesn't hang around addicts, and a person who wants to be successful doesn't hang around the non ambitious. The most resentful people are often those closest to oneself. They'll rather drag you down than see you succeed.

[JACK-2]

Nov 22, 2015 19:22:55 GMT -5 MGNoxa said:

Depression isn't something you can just get out of.

As someone who's been depressed for 7 years straight before coming out of it. I can tell you that taking charge o your life is something you have to do. Things won't get better just by sitting on your butt and it takes time too.

[The Big Daddy C-Master]

Like I posted before. People like that need to seek help and need a mental help professional. Trying to "help" people with those problems makes it worse for everyone else involved because they end up making it worse by enabling them. I've had alcoholics in my family and it's the same thing.

The bottom line is these people have to fix this themselves and want to fix it. If they don't want to nothing you or I do will help them. They find it easier to escape their problems than try to fix their problems, when people enable them it just enforces their behavior. What motivation do they have to change when they're rewarded by people who demean them by saying "It's not your fault, you couldn't help it."

Part of personal freedom is self ownership and part of that is responsibility. If I was throwing my life away I'd be glad to have someone kick me in the ass and send me the right direction. It might sting at first but it would be worth it in the long run. That person cares a lot more than the person who feeds me lies for my own false sense of self esteem.

Honestly like I said people can live their life the way they want. As long as they realize it's on them and don't drag me into it, I'm fine with it. They can get out of it, but it takes work.

[JACK-2]

Nov 22, 2015 19:42:08 GMT -5 MGNoxa said:

Yes but sometimes without a helping hand you can't do that. It's just impossible for some people to take control of their own life without help.

I read alot of self help books and stuff to get me motivated. But, I'm generally alone in all this. But, even with help I think too many people avoid looking at the mirror for their predicament. It's much easier to blame.

[The Big Daddy C-Master]

Nov 22, 2015 19:26:44 GMT -5 JACK-2 said:

Nov 22, 2015 19:22:55 GMT -5 MGNoxa said:

Depression isn't something you can just get out of.

As someone who's been depressed for 7 years straight before coming out of it. I can tell you that taking charge o your life is something you have to do. Things won't get better just by sitting on your butt and it takes time too.

I agree I try to keep things simple. I post in several boards on different topics because I believe in well roundedness and people doing more with themselves.

Start simple. Exercise more, that releases endorphins which makes you feel better. Eat healthier food, that also makes you feel better.


Start accomplishing goals, start small and go big. Then you dress a bit nicer (don't have to be extravagant) and then socialize a bit more. Get used to talking to girls.

Work on your career and save up money.

Over time your life improves and you feel more confident that you're taking control of yourself and it'll get better. The depression trap is bad because it's one cycle of bad decisions and feeling bad. It takes work but it's just like losing weight, it's about the fundamentals.

Nov 22, 2015 19:42:08 GMT -5 MGNoxa said:

Nov 22, 2015 19:26:44 GMT -5 JACK-2 said:

As someone who's been depressed for 7 years straight before coming out of it. I can tell you that taking charge o your life is something you have to do. Things won't get better just by sitting on your butt and it takes time too.

Yes but sometimes without a helping hand you can't do that. It's just impossible for some people to take control of their own life without help.

Well whose fault is that that they don't want to take control? I mean making excuses for self destructive people won't help them.

"It's not their fault."

"They're depressed."

"Their family was mean to them."

Etc. Things happen but people have to want change. If they look in the mirror they'll realize they need a helping hand, if a person doesn't want to make their life better all of the helping hands in the world won't make them fix their mistakes. It's impossible to make someone do something they don't want to do.

[JACK-2]

Alot of people want instant results. It takes time and alot of it is around working on yourself and making changes to what you do. Alot of "Losers" who use games use them to escape their problems.

[The Big Daddy C-Master]

Nov 22, 2015 19:49:24 GMT -5 JACK-2 said:

Alot of people want instant results. It takes time and alot of it is around working on yourself and making changes to what you do. Alot of "Losers" who use games use them to escape their problems.

Well it's the same thing with weight loss and success. People want a quick fix to a problem that starts with their mindset being messed up.

I've had many people complain about their financial issues, and I try to help them with a job or advice and they just ignore it or don't show up and get fired, and then go back to complaining. It drove me insane which is why I don't deal with people like that anymore, it's insane having to listen to it.

[Great Dark Hero]

I'm not trying to be funny but this article is somewhat bogus. As if to say, it sounds like something that some lame old Fox News reporter would say (and according to C-Master's perspectives... along with many other people who commented here, I'm probably right). Most of us are doing okay, but we still play video games. CONSTANTLY. Many competitive fighting game players that we see every so often are not exactly what you call "fat" or "depressive" either. I am definitely not out of shape (because, one of my jobs practically require me to be in shape anyway). Depression is not really an issue either and the same could be said for countless other individuals. Some people just like playing video games... because... They... simply... like to play video games. That's almost the same as saying that anyone who plays Mortal Kombat is likely to be a serial killer. Or, anyone who plays Dead or Alive is a severe pervert. In retrospect, neither of those make any sense in retrospect. Now it seems like anyone who plays video games is a fat, unhealthy slob.

[The Big Daddy C-Master]

Nov 22, 2015 22:08:43 GMT -5 MGNoxa said:

I think we're going to have to agree to disagree because even if someone wants to change they might not be able to bring them to that place. Sometimes they need a wake up call, in other words a kick in the ass. Sometimes they just need a helping hand to guide them. Sometimes they can do it on their own. Sometimes they need help with everything because they just can't operate normally anymore. Depression is a tricky thing, mental illness is a tricky thing and until we are able to figure out what causes it and how to heal it it's always going to be a person by person case.

When I was diagnosed with depression during High School I didn't know what to do, I just kept going and tried to avoid those that gave me grief but without Teachers helping, I admit sometimes their help got too much and I had to tell them to stop looking out for me but without some of my Teachers I don't know if I would've gotten out of it, I still feel the same now but I'm not "depressed" anymore whatever that means. All I needed, I think was some streamlining to get me back on track. For a kid in high school streamlining would've been impossible to do on my own.

Everyone falls down rabbit holes some are deeper than others and some people have rabbit holes that no one knew was possible to fall down. Look at Japan and the Anime Girl Syndrome thing (forgot what it's called) but fully grown men, we're talking 30+ are watching Anime and then they become attracted to the characters but not just "She's hot" actual love and not fandom love. They fall in love with the characters, surround themselves with the characters and become hermits and their life gets destroyed, ruined. Now their life has been destroyed they go even deeper and don't want to leave. Some of these men will realise what's going on and climb out but others need help because their so far gone they can't see the light anymore.

As I said earlier Mental Illness is a case by case situation. Some have it harder, some deal with it differently. You've got to remember that these people can no longer think or function normally so looking in the mirror isn't something that can help them and may even make them worse.

Also this is my last post on Depression because well it's depressing and we really should be talking about how crap the article is instead of arguing over what/who is a loser and how to solve depression/mental illness.

First of all, lifestyle DOES have an effect on mental health/depression which means something *can* be done about it, regardless of what some people would lead you to believe. These things include diet, exercise, and environment.

www.mentalhelp.net/articles/lifestyle-factors-and-environmental-causes-of-major-depression/

In other words if you eat poorly, don't exercise, and lay around you're more likely to feel bad because of not only the chemicals in your brain, but the fact that you're not doing anything. So what I say is scientific *fact*.

At the end of the day we all have problems and how we deal with them is what makes us who we are. People have been depressed and have moved out of it. A person who has severe mental issues needs to seek a mental health professional. People have always had trials, drama, death and destruction and things to cope with, yet they still survived. We don't need to give everybody a pill or medical treatment for this, many of these things have natural causes and are persona/lifestyle based. It can be overcome (also I hate drugs and avoid them unless necessary).

Most people who are losers are not mentally ill, that is a VERY small minority, but even then an alcoholic who goes around stealing and getting DUI's is still responsible for their own actions. Being depressed doesn't absolve you for life choices. When I make threads about stuff like this, people take it as a personal attack on them and get defensive, it's not. A person who sits around and does nothing and blames others for their own failures IS a loser, because it's loser behavior. I figured you were taking offense to this and thought I was talking about you, I wasn't. I will say however when you said that gaming "saved your life" and that the censorship thing was making you really depressed it did sound like something similar to people I knew in the past who had this issue.

You said yourself that people reaching out to you didn't work. That's my point, you can't help someone who doesn't want it. Honestly if a person doesn't want help, that's on them. I'm not going to drag myself in the gutter for someone who is self destructive. If a person wants to do drugs, let them. They need to take responsibility for it and not blame others.

Again mental illness is a VERY small percentage of people who do this, most are just lazy and not motivated. I'm not sure what else you call a person who does this. You're right, everyone deals with their life differently. Some choose to get up and make their lives better and others choose to sit back and blame others. I've known tons of people including former friends and family members sit around and do nothing and then blame others and ask for a handout. They weren't mentally ill, they were lazy entitled slugs. I've had "depressed" friends and I got tired of playing counselor, dealing with drama, suicide notes, people making dumb decisions and crying about it. It's simply a drain.

This isn't just about gaming it's about life choices. The article had some dumb points but it was accurate in some areas. I never brought up the mental health aspect of it, only the loser aspect.

Nov 22, 2015 20:24:04 GMT -5 Great Dark Hero said:

I'm not trying to be funny but this article is somewhat bogus. As if to say, it sounds like something that some lame old Fox News reporter would say (and according to C-Master's perspectives... along with many other people who commented here, I'm probably right). Most of us are doing okay, but we still play video games. CONSTANTLY. Many competitive fighting game players that we see every so often are not exactly what you call "fat" or "depressive" either. I am definitely not out of shape (because, one of my jobs practically require me to be in shape anyway). Depression is not really an issue either and the same could be said for countless other individuals. Some people just like playing video games... because... They... simply... like to play video games. That's almost the same as saying that anyone who plays Mortal Kombat is likely to be a serial killer. Or, anyone who plays Dead or Alive is a severe pervert. In retrospect, neither of those make any sense in retrospect. Now it seems like anyone who plays video games is a fat, unhealthy slob.

I didn't see it as everyone playing games being losers. It seemed to say they were more likely to be depressed and overweight though. If it said EVERYONE who played video games had those issues it would be a joke. Playing games is no worse inherently than watching television.


The article has troll qualities but it has SOME merit in truth.

[The Big Daddy C-Master]

Nov 23, 2015 5:44:14 GMT -5 MGNoxa said:

You say it's fact but I'm going to have to disagree because I could probably find evidence that there's stuff that can affect you outside of your lifestyle choices. I said I was stubborn when it comes to my own opinions

Feel free to disagree, but it is true. This is why I push healthy eating because the garbage we eat has a very negative effect on our bodies. Americans have had all kinds of physical and mental issues and a bad diet is a core part of that problem. Many foods are basically drug like.

Exercising releases chemicals in your brain that make you feel better so it does make a difference.

[The Big Daddy C-Master]

Nov 23, 2015 5:55:11 GMT -5 MGNoxa said:

Nov 23, 2015 5:53:42 GMT -5 The Big Daddy C-Master said:

Feel free to disagree, but it is true. This is why I push healthy eating because the garbage we eat has a very negative effect on our bodies. Americans have had all kinds of physical and mental issues and a bad diet is a core part of that problem. Many foods are basically drug like.

Exercising releases chemicals in your brain that make you feel better so it does make a difference.

I agree with all of what you just said.

Well if we agree there then it's cool. It's all gradual but these things have an effect. These changes don't go away overnight but it is a 2 way street.

Cool. I'm going to find another topic to discuss now. This one's been beaten in, lol.