Video Games May Not Make Kids Fat

It’s the stereotype that the media loves to trot out again and again: roly-poly kids that porked up from sitting around and playing video games. But now, a new study from Michigan State University is challenging the long-held belief that sitting around playing video games turns kids into fatties.

The study followed a group of 12 year olds for three years, monitoring their internet, video game and cell phone use and tracking their height, weight and exam scores. They also used surveyed the kids on reading, math, self esteem and hand-eye coordination. It turns out that playing video games weren’t strong predictors of obesity. The biggest indicators: age, race and socioeconomic status.

So, it sounds like video games won’t influence your weight…it’s just everything else about being a kid in the US that does.

[New Scientist via Kotaku]