A recent study has found that children who spend a lot of time playing video games are more likely to become overweight or obese.

The study, published in the June issue of Obesity Research, found a strong association between video game use and obesity among school-age children. The study also found childhood obesity was associated with television watching, father's smoking and mother's working outside the home.

Obese kids played more video games
Scientists looked to identify environmental and behavioral factors—in particular, type and duration of sedentary activities—associated with obesity in children living in Switzerland.

The study included 872 children in first, second and third grades. Researchers found that non-Swiss children living in Switzerland were about twice as likely to be obese as Swiss children. These non-Swiss children watched more television and got less physical activity than children from Switzerland. Obesity was independently associated with lack of physical activity, time spent playing video games and time spent watching television.

Reference:

1. N. Stettler; Signer, T.M., Suter, P.M., “Electronic Games and Environmental Factors Associated with Childhood Obesity in Switzerland,” Obesity Research, 2004: 12: 896-903.