Frisky Mongoose

“There is a strong correlation between playing video games and participating in real sports. Watching television is a threat to physical activity.  Video games are not, however.” These are the words of Thierry Lardinoit, Head of International Sports Marketing Chair and Head of the Marketing Department at European business school ESSEC. In discussions regarding obesity in children, video games are often lumped with television as enemies of childhood health. However, new research from ESSEC shows otherwise.

Studies show that 38% of males under 21 actually play their favorite sport in addition to playing video games it’s based upon. 75% of sports gamers play some kind of sport in real life. Adolescents who play sports video games are also more likely to engage in the sports in real life. This new research bodes well for the reputation of  video games.

Lardinoit sums it up well. “Video games are frequently demonized. We now know that these fears are unfounded.  While it is difficult to fight against the consumption of video games, which has become more and more widespread among youth, we can use this consumption to further the realistic goal of encouraging physical activity among adolescents.”

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