In the not too distant future, video games may have health warning labels like the ones found on Marlboros and Jim Beam.

New research performed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Emory University, and Andrews University shows that the average age of video game players is 35.  That means a lot of very old people are spending endless hours on the Nintendo Wii, Sony (SNE) PS3, or Microsoft (MSFT) Xbox 360 consoles. It also means that gaming is not dominated by people under 20 and a portion of younger adults are probably doing something constructive with their time.

The data, which will appear in The Journal of Preventive Medicine in October, shows that video game players tend to be fat (have high BMI indexes), depressed (self assessment of mental state), and shut-ins (rely heavily on internet for social support.

Writing in the article, Dr. James B Weaver III, PhD, MPH, National Center for Health Marketing, CDC, Atlanta, states, “As hypothesized, health-risk factors – specifically, a higher BMI and a greater number of poor mental-health days – differentiated adult video-game players from nonplayers. Video-game players also reported lower extraversion, consistent with research on adolescents that linked video-game playing to a sedentary lifestyle and overweight status, and to mental-health concerns. Internet community support and time spent online distinguished adult video-game players from nonplayers, a finding consistent with prior research pointing to the willingness of adult video-game enthusiasts to sacrifice real-world social activities to play video games. The data illustrate the need for further research among adults to clarify how to use digital opportunities more effectively to promote health and prevent disease.”

Sony has just announced that it will cut the price of its PS3 by $100. If gaming turns out to be a serious and undiscovered health hazard, the price cut may not help.

Nintendo, of course, has the Wii Fit. At least its users get some exercise to help with weight loss and increase endorphins.

Douglas A. McIntyre

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