Some video game contents not only promote an inactive lifestyle but also unhealthy food and dietary choices, say Michigan State University researchers.
Health experts have time and again emphasized the negative aspects of playing video games. Though recent studies have linked video gaming to memory boost, better cognitive reactions, etc, there are still many health issues caused due to overindulgence in console gaming.
Video gaming leads to a sedentary lifestyle spent majorly indoors. Now, a new study by researchers from the University of Michigan finds that playing video games also promotes unhealthy food and eating habits.
Advergames are mainly responsible for this. These are online video games that promote a certain product or brand by integrating it into the game. These games are also available for free and therefore, extensively used by children.
For the study, researchers examined 145 websites that had 439 food brands being promoted through advergames. Their research led to the discovery that many of these advergames promoted food items that were high in calories, fat and sugar and sodium content.
"One of the things we were concerned about was that the majority of foods that received the most interest were those that tended to be energy dense -- high in calories -- and not high in nutrients," said Lorraine Weatherspoon, a co-director of the project and an associate professor of food science and human nutrition. "These foods typically included high-sugar snacks and cereals as well as instant or canned soups, sugar-sweetened beverages and several types of candy products."
One of the reasons why these video games are so popular among kids is because they are free and easy to learn. They use attractive brand logos, pictures and interesting animations of known names promoting the brand.
"Compared to a typical TV commercial that would last maybe 30 seconds, these games are fun and engaging and children can play them for much longer periods of time," said Elizabeth Taylor Quilliam, project co-director and assistant professor of advertising and public relations.
Weatherspoon also voiced her concern about the absence of federal policies that keep a check on what is feasible marketing for children and the frequency. She also suggests that if advergames have to promote a food brand, they should promote healthy ones with good nutritional value.
"We hope that we can translate the use of engaging entertaining online tactics like this to teach healthy eating and other healthy lifestyle behaviors to kids," Quilliam said.
