Sedentary lifestyle, concomitant with video game playing, is reflected in the gamers' body weights: A study from Hungary.

In Hungary, 3.5 million adults played video games regularly in 2022. Video gaming is most common in the 18-25 years age group, and among schoolchildren, almost half of students are players. Excessive gaming is a recognized disease (DSM-5: internet gaming disorder; ICD 11: gaming disorder). The aim of our study was to examine the health status of video gamers in a complex way, including their sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle, mental and physical health. Further goal was to develop an effective questionnaire, which can identify the lifestyle-related risk factors. The sample was divided into gamers (playing >1h/day) and casuals (<1h/day). Most of gamers were men in their twenties. More than two-thirds started to play >10 years prior. The proportion of overweight and obese individuals was significantly higher among gamers compared to casuals (p=.001). Mean body mass index (BMI) of both gamers and casuals was 23.69±4.17 kg/m². Gamers ate less often (p=.001), omitted breakfast more frequently (p=.030), ate snack during gaming (p=.020), consumed soft drinks (p=.010) and energy drinks (p<.001). Almost half of respondents performed intense physical activity ≥3 times/week and more than two-thirds slept <8 hours/day. No connection was found between video games and having chronic illnesses or taking prescription drugs as part of treatment. Self-declared presence of video game addiction was 16.2% in the gamer's group. The next step should be a nationwide survey with our improved questionnaire, focusing more on the lifestyle characteristics and distinguishing between time spent sitting while video gaming or while working or studying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]