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Good news: we're not 'fat' anymore. Bad: we're depressed substance abusers photo

According to a joint study conducted by researchers at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, the Palo Alto Research Center, and University of Delaware in Newark, we gamers are not the fat, lazy bastards the public used to think we were. Now we're depressed substance junkies. Well, not "we" so much as "they." 

According to this research, gamers have slimmed down. We're now under the national average of a body mass index of 28, weighing in at 25.2. This new gamer exercises twice a week, taking better care of their health than the old couch potato stereotype.

The flip side says that these same gamers reported more cases of depression and substance abuse. "They may be drawn to use the game to help deal with emotional distress," says team member Scott Caplan of the University of Delaware, reports NewScientist

Polling 7,000 gamers sounds like a pretty good study, right? It's too bad that they polled 7,000 Everquest II gamers, and no one else. There's no representation of the console gamer, which I'm sure you'll all agree is a different beast. In that sense, I think "we" are still fat and lazy.

[Thanks, wardrox]








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Dale North is Destructoid's Editor-In-Chief, a founding editor, and specialist in Japanese gaming. An accomplished musician, Dale was reporting from Japan during the earthquakes of 2011. Luckily, he got the fuck out alive and is home in America now with his wife and beloved corgi, Einstein. Dale is also a co-founder of Destructoid's sister anime site Japanator. Likes Corgis, Sega Saturn, PSP, iPhone, Photographic tools. Meet the rest of the team



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14 comments | showing # 1 to 14
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Satsumomo's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/18/2008 15:12
Satsumomo
I still don't know if Dale North is the same person who brought us the marvelous "Team gato" and "Megaman 3 Needles" mixes.
MrSadistic's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/18/2008 15:13
MrSadistic
I guess I'm a fat, depressed substance abuser.
wannabepunktony's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/18/2008 15:18
wannabepunktony
I wonder if they make a difference between substance abuse and substance use....
Holyetheline's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/18/2008 15:19
Holyetheline
I'm a depressed casual alcoholic who smoked weed once and took speed once... or twice... who really keeps track though? However I'm definitely not fat... so that's good.

I console game.
Bob Muir's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/18/2008 15:23
Bob Muir
It's a shame that Wii Fit counts for "exercises twice a week." Then again, I can't talk: despite my incredibly thin body, I'm a total slug.
Jon2309's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/18/2008 15:45
Jon2309
Well, I think the result would be worse were it 7000 WoW players, at least.
Dale North's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/18/2008 15:56
Dale North
Jon2309: definitely - without question
fetusmilk's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/18/2008 16:19
fetusmilk
sorry but drugs and video games have gone hand in hand for so many years.
ajaxender's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/18/2008 16:23
ajaxender
Seriously just 7000 Everquest II gamers? I really doubt thats gonna give any decent impression on the 'average' gamer. Particularly since id say that the such a gamer probably wouldnt play everquest. More like Wow.
Spartacus's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/18/2008 16:33
Spartacus
I hate the idea of finding the average BMI of people with a certain hobby.
foxhound009's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/18/2008 16:55
foxhound009
would you eefing make your mind up!
I was just about to buy some XXL size cloths.. now it seems though that I need a shrink :/
brad drac's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/18/2008 17:02
brad drac
They know me so well...
KMCC's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/18/2008 17:16
KMCC
Quoted from the article: "...quizzed 7000 players of the role-playing game EverQuest II about their physical and mental health. Participants were offered a specially created virtual weapon as an incentive - the "Greatstaff of the Sun Serpent". "

Come on, that's pretty funny.
Blackhat's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/18/2008 19:21
Blackhat
Nothing like asking people if they're overweight or not.
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