Video Gamers are 35, overweight, and depressed

[Joseph the PRPD]

A "study" that was done. Pffffffft.

So if I make a study of people in my immediate vicinity I guess it'll be true.

[The Eva Monkey]

I'm 26, skinny, and fairly well adjusted.

Guess I'm not a gamer.

[FreakyFilmFan4ever]

I'm 22, look anorexic (even though I eat everything in sight), and don't play a whole lot of games often. But that's not to say I don't sit around as often as gamers. I just watch movies instead, or just sit around in front of a computer doing nothing.

[Holy Diver]

Yes, I play video games everyday, I'm 17 years old, I work out everyday, and I'm just sooooooooo depressed. I must be a gamer too.

A big FFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUU to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. In stead of helping to cure AIDS or cancer, you study stupid crap like this.

(Okay, I actually am depressed, but thats because of an existential crisis and morons like these, not my video game usage)

[CorporalChaos]

Hmmm...I wonder how long it's going to be before there's a massive media circus followed public uproar over video games causing poor health.

That's how it always starts, some study by a major institute on a small portion of society, which is then reported to death in the media causing an uproar (overreported, of course) which becomes some cause celebre for a politician.

I'm in despair! This world which can get so worked up over little things has left me in despair!

[backseatjesus]

Such bullshit. I'm 17, slightly overweight and beyond depressed.

[Ornette]

I'm 35. I guess they got that part right. My hair is a little overweight. I'm a raging alcoholic, maybe that's kind of like a depression.

[Eva Yojimbo]

I didn't get overweight until I stopped playing video games, then when I started playing them again I lost the weight...

[Sammaeloo]

I'm 19, normal weight, and 6'1". I play video games too. Whoever did this study must have done a lot of cherrypicking.

[Tokpile Quohog]

Wow, its like that article is talking about me.

[oOoOoOo]

They're right about the introversion thing, eh boys? ^_~

But games make me happy! When I'm depressed I play games like Shadow of the Colossus (trust me, it works somehow) and Legend of Mana (watercolour storybook) and Super Mario 3 (coincoincoincoincoin). __^

You can also play games with a friend, and it helps you lose weight and stay happy! See, the boy plays drums on "Rock Band" and the girl sits on his lap (boys can try tooo~) and sings! Pants optional. Perfect. Ladies, you might notice some vibrato.

There should be mandatory "videogame appreciation" classes in school, just like for visual art and music and drama, that way they could work towards changing the demographic.

[Merridian]

When I'm depressed I play games like Shadow of the Colossus (trust me, it works somehow) and Legend of Mana (watercolour storybook) and Super Mario 3 (coincoincoincoincoin).

Whenever I'm feeling glum I jack up the custom soundtracks and blast shit on Gears of War 2. I don't really play it to win anymore; I just like turning things into unrecognizable mires of blood and guts. I've found that Rob Dougan, Mouth of the Architect, and John Coltrane make for some of the best head-busting music. Cal Tjader's Soul Sauce makes it an interesting experience also. And all techno.
I can see how this could be dangerous, but it's only for an hour or two every few days. I barely play the thing when my friend isn't over to play co-op anyhow. This feels like a sorry attempt at self-justification, but oh well.
@ Article/Topic: I'm wondering if this is anything like the High Fidelity quandary--do gamers play games because they're depressed and/or introverted, or are gamers depressed and/or introverted because they play games? The article's leaning more to the former, but it isn't like there aren't countless commentators and studies out trying to link games to violent tendencies... I dunno, without seeing the study itself, it's pretty hard to say anything about its validity.

[Teague]

Well, according to DeathClock I won't live to see 35 so YAY that will never be me.

[Captain_Morgan]

Huh...typically if I'm in a bad mood, I'll try to go for a run.

Playing many rounds of COD4 tends to put me in a rather bad mood because of how many people use the glitches, noob tubes, grenade spamming, etc.

So, while I am currently not in great shape right now, video games are slowly making me fit...indirectly I suppose.

As for depression, well, I'm cheerfully apathetic, and go out drinking and having fun with friends.

Something tells me these researchers are full of it.

[Sachi]

I'm 16, underweight and my depression is of a result of me being 16. I like video games, and play them quite often. Do I fall into the stereotype? Not really.

[Guyver Spawn]

I'm 18, my weight is just fine and I never do get the time to play video games since I'm busy during the week.

[FreakyFilmFan4ever]

I'm 19, normal weight, and 6'1". I play video games too. Whoever did this study must have done a lot of cherrypicking.

This study concludes that all depressed, 35-year-old video gamers are all depressed, 35-year-old video gamers.

Yup.

[Mr. Tines]

The 35-year-old bit has to do with when the technology really got widespread. Space Invaders was about contemporary with the start of my time at university -- and when those guys who are 35 now were being born.

[Evangelion__x]

lol.

Just.. lol.

[master_lloyd]

35? No.
Depressed? No.
Overweight? Well, I could do with getting into shape. Which I'll be doing using my new PS2 Dance mat!

So in fact video games are solving my problems!