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Beverage Association blames games for obesity

Beverage Association blames games for obesity

What is to blame for obesity? Computer games or fizzy drinks?

The Mayor of San Francisco Gavin Newsom made a brave proposal earlier this week and called for surcharge to be bought to bear on fizzy drinks (specifically those containing high fructose corn syrup) in an effort help combat obesity. Obviously, the proposal didn't go down to well with some companies and the American Beverage Association has hit back hard lately by shifting blame to computer games instead.

"It makes no sense to single out any one single cause of obesity, which is a complex problem," said Kevin Keane, senior Vice President of the ABA to the International Herald Tribune

The article went on to say that "Keane said that if Newsom really wanted to fight the fat, he would take on computer and video game companies, which Keane said lured children inside when they should 'be outside burning calories.'"

So, computer games make you fat? Obviously Keane hasn't played Guitar Hero 3. Or Dance Dance Revolution. Or House of the Dead. Or anything on the Wii. Instead, he must play those games where you get an injection of calories when you win. Now we see where he's coming from.

Seriously though, do you think computer games are a cause of obesity, or is it more of an attitude and motivation problem? Should I be worried about piling on the pounds in this line of work? Let us know your thoughts in the forums.

32 Comments

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Bursar 20th December 2007, 11:45 Quote
But apparently they were misquoted: http://kotaku.com/336032/soda-says-sorry-to-videogames
HellRazor 20th December 2007, 11:46 Quote
I blame Canada!!

But honestly, its all contributing to the "obesity epidemic" (how can being fat be an epidemic like the chicken pox or something....)

Games lure you inside, and because your sitting there you snack on those nasty foods. Because you snack on those nasty foods you get increasingly out of shape, which causes you to stay inside and watch TV and play games while consuming more and more nasty food. Its really a vicious cylce.

I've got an idea however!

A hat with a stick, and a twinkie dangling on a string. If people are retarded enough to believe soda or gaming alone makes them fat, then they should be stupid enough to chase a twinkie on a string!!
Lazarus Dark 20th December 2007, 11:48 Quote
I know for a fact, about four years ago I stopped drinking anything but water, natural juices and milk. No other change in diet or exorcise. I lost a couple dozen pounds in three months. But unfortunately, I eventually picked up the addiction once again (I think it was during a week long camping trip) and soon the pounds were back.

Until I started the Wii diet. How about this: a tax on soft drinks and use that tax to subsidize Wii's for everyone! Wii fit comes to the US soon too!
AcidJiles 20th December 2007, 12:26 Quote
without games there of course would be no obesity, drinking large calorie amounts in beverages or from food has nothing do with making people fat. Gaming is the major cause as people would otherwise be doing large amounts of activity such as watching tv, reading books, watching films, going to resturants etc all of which do not increase peoples waist lines. (largest amount of sarcasm that is possible ever)

Life is about comprimise, if you eat badly and sit on your ass all day doing whatever it maybe you will get fat, if you exercise and eat in moderation amazingly (shocking I know) you are likely to be slimmer and more healthy.
Mankz 20th December 2007, 12:27 Quote
Now thats what I call a wide load.

You don't have to drink fizzy drinks when you game! I find water is far more refreshing.
Icy EyeG 20th December 2007, 13:15 Quote
Bad food habits and 1 liter of fizzy drinks per meal are to blame here. Not gaming.... At least, this is how I see it.
IMAO, people don't eat properly home made food anymore..... So, they cannot ingest proper balanced quantities of the right nutrients: they eat too much fat and too much sugar.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AcidJiles

Life is about compromise, if you eat badly and sit on your ass all day doing whatever it maybe you will get fat, if you exercise and eat in moderation amazingly (shocking I know) you are likely to be slimmer and more healthy.

QFT
AcidJiles 20th December 2007, 13:18 Quote
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mankz.
Now thats what I call a wide load.

You don't have to drink fizzy drinks when you game! I find water is far more refreshing.

haven't drunk fizzy drinks in quantity in years. Always have a full glass of water next to my pc, is far more refreshing its true.
Blademrk 20th December 2007, 13:20 Quote
Nothing to do with the size of the meals served in the US then?

tbh, I think It's safer for the kids to stay in and play on the computer than go out these days.
Redbeaver 20th December 2007, 14:06 Quote
Quote:
Originally Posted by HellRazor
I blame Canada!!

hey, when its -36 Celcius outside, id rather be inside and play games then jog... :)
TreeDude 20th December 2007, 14:26 Quote
If your obese you have no one to blame but yourself. Everyone has the choice whether to drink soda, eat greasy food, exercise, ect... If your fat it is YOUR fault. Not the companies. The companies do what they do because we buy it. If everyone decided to only drink things with out HFCS then the companies would change to real suger.

Eat sensible and don't drink soda daily.
speedfreek 20th December 2007, 14:27 Quote
The picture made me freak out.

I have been eating twice as much as I used to and I have lost 4" off of my waist in the past few weeks, I have also been playing video games more too. Funny thing is that when I made a point of it to drink less soda and eat less junkfood was a few weeks ago. Its possibly a spike in my metabolism but when I can eat like I have been and still loose weight just by being more selective on what I'm having I think there is something too that.
E.E.L. Ambiense 20th December 2007, 14:33 Quote
Over-processed foods, massive intake of sugars/carbs and lack of exercise are to blame for obesity. Perhaps genetic makeup plays a small role as well. Nothing else. If people want to be thin, they'll do something about it. A large portion of America is overweight because a big chunk (, sorry) of the population is lazy.
Firehed 20th December 2007, 14:36 Quote
Quote:
Originally Posted by Blademrk
Nothing to do with the size of the meals served in the US then?

tbh, I think It's safer for the kids to stay in and play on the computer than go out these days.
Oh that's BS. Clearly our sensationalist media is doing its job.
naokaji 20th December 2007, 14:50 Quote
so.... banning games would solve the problem of people being fat?

who the f**k comes up with such bs?

if people are too lazy to move their ass then they wont move their ass no matter if with games or not....
airchie 20th December 2007, 15:59 Quote
GOD DAMN THAT'S A BIG FAT ASS!!! </stan> :D
Major 20th December 2007, 16:02 Quote
I agree with the statement to an extent i.e. not all obese people play games etc.
Tubarc 20th December 2007, 18:38 Quote
Free Fruits on Public Áreas to Curb Spreading Obesity

Fruits are low in calories and highly nutritional already grown on public places at increasing ratios to face obesity trends. Tree climbing also can be a body exercise for people harvesting fruits.

Fruits have around four times more water content than cookies and easily satisfy hunger taking less energy. Refrigerators full of fruits easily beat junkies.

In Brazil we are increasing fruit trees in the public areas changing the country to a large tropical orchard. Then, sidewalks, squares, parks, roadsides will be plenty of free fruits bearing appropriate food to fight spreading obesity. Free fruits are protected from the power of the economic system pursuing profitability.

Other countries are invited to join us on a fight against global obesity toward a Public Fructification. Brazil intends to become a developed country without common problems of a superpower.

We intend the rural area to conquer public areas making it full of fruits.
http://revver.com/watch/225528
http://revver.com/watch/529604

Even carnivores can be convinced to eat more fruits why not humans?
http://revver.com/watch/218695
Rebourne 20th December 2007, 19:07 Quote
Personally, I think it may be the high fructose corn syrup that they put in everything over here.
E.E.L. Ambiense 20th December 2007, 19:31 Quote
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rebourne
Personally, I think it may be the high fructose corn syrup that they put in everything over here.

Another term for sugar.
warlord2000ad 20th December 2007, 20:07 Quote
They seem to pin everything on games. When they can't pin something on fact, pin it on science fiction :P (the games that is)

I agree it does keep people inside, but its each persons or their guardians responsibility to take it in moderation. If you sit playing games all day you need to consider what else you should be doing.
Rebourne 20th December 2007, 20:08 Quote
it is a sugar yes but glucose is what is commonly used in beverages around the world. In the US it is subsidized with high fructose corn syrup.
Tyinsar 20th December 2007, 20:34 Quote
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tubarc
...In Brazil we are increasing fruit trees in the public areas changing the country to a large tropical orchard....
Other countries are invited to join us on a fight against global obesity toward a Public Fructification...
1) Welcome to the forums
2) Interesting concept, not exactly viable here in the Great White North (Canada) but I really hope it works for you.
3) "Public Fructification" sorry, that just sounds funny in English (I understand what you mean and wish I could give you a better phrase to use but I can't think of one at the moment).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rebourne
it is a sugar yes but glucose is what is commonly used in beverages around the world. In the US it is subsidized with high fructose corn syrup.
Ah-ha! let's blame the government :) (j/k). Personally I'm trying to cut back on my sugar / carb intake but unless you make it yourself or are willing to put up with artificial sweeteners (I'm not) then it's difficult. The easiest first step: cut out the soft drinks. I'd say the mayor is on the right track. ;)

I wonder, has anyone made a comparison of the cost to society of obesity versus smoking? I think it would hilarious to see the same type of warnings on Coke as we see on cigarettes - in Canada they're the size of half of the cigarette package. (OK, it'll never happen but it would be funny.)
rhuitron 20th December 2007, 21:59 Quote
God Damn it.

Only in a city as gay as San Fagcisco, Could you ask everyone to stop gaming and drinking soda.

Next thing, Everyone will have to drink water and Jucie's.

**** you mayor.

People are fat because they want to be fat. Or because they can't change it. Not becasue there are many sooooo Soda's and Video games available and not enough fruity ****ing beverages around.
DXR_13KE 20th December 2007, 22:02 Quote
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tyinsar
in Canada they're the size of half of the cigarette package.

here they are about the same size of the cigarette package... except for the top part..... that is reserved for the makers.
naokaji 20th December 2007, 22:34 Quote
Quote:
Originally Posted by E.E.L. Ambiense
Another term for sugar.

to be honest, i rather have sugar than the 100% artificial crap noone knows anything about they use as a substitute...
TRG 21st December 2007, 03:41 Quote
Despite what the soft drink companies think, gaming can actually burn calories. Has anyone here ever ended a fragfest and noticed that they are sweating? How about getting an adrenalin rush? Your brain burns through sugar like mad when it is active, so play a thinking game (like Sub Space Continuum). Make sure that you can get a rush off of whatever game it is (chess or checkers don't work well here), and you can actually stay fit by gaming. Or just buy a Wii...
MrBurritoMan 21st December 2007, 04:32 Quote
hmmm......

i look at this and my answer to the initial post is that neither are the sole cause of obesity. many things are to blame for the current trend of obesity in many parts of the world (not just limited to the US). we could play the blame game till the cows come home however that never gets us anywhere but angry, frustrated, and nowhere close to solving this problem.

as far as this obesity thing and what has been proposed i will say one thing and one thing only "no amount of government regulation or intervention can make up for just a few ounces of good parenting". while this does not mean that every obese person had a bad parent or will be a bad parent it just goes to say that we will do more to resolve this issue if parents taught their kids to eat healthy and exercise. simply removing soft drinks and video games from the picture just means that people will now pig out on chocolate while watching TV.

what i am trying to say in all of this is that we should try our hardest to learn from our mistakes and teach the next generation how to be healthy while they can still be taught. changing an adults behavior is significantly more difficult than a child's. if we do this then our children will (more than likely) eat healthy, exercise and consume less soft drinks. then the market will adjust and the manufacturers will have to figure out how to make their product more healthy so they will sell. even though it will take a lot longer this is always the best method in the long run. after all the only good thing government does is take your money; the last thing they need to do is regulate something else.
Tubarc 21st December 2007, 14:24 Quote
2) Interesting concept, not exactly viable here in the Great White North (Canada) but I really hope it works for you.
3) "Public Fructification" sorry, that just sounds funny in English (I understand what you mean and wish I could give you a better phrase to use but I can't think of one at the moment).

Well, I saw some apples being grown on a sidewalk in Pennsylvania. Canada can grow fruits in the summer time. Naturally there will not be fruits in the winter, but you import some from Brazil or come around and get them free.

Public Fructification is intended not only to grow fruits but also to make the public services and assets work better toward citizes since Brazilians are famous for corruptions and dishonesty. Learnging to grow something in the public area can help to mold a new mind of citizenship toward solidarity and sharing common interest. Obesity is just one more goal toward helping man to find its balance with nature.

http://revver.com/watch/353186
Icy EyeG 22nd December 2007, 00:27 Quote
Quote:
Originally Posted by naokaji
to be honest, i rather have sugar than the 100% artificial crap noone knows anything about they use as a substitute...

Exactly... Fructose has the problem of being bad to your liver when you eat it in excess.

The key terms on a subject as obesity fighting/prevention are balance and self-control. ;) So, you shouldn't need any nutrients to be substituted by something that shouldn't be there in the first place. Same goes with Aspartame and Diet drinks/food.
proxess 22nd December 2007, 09:48 Quote
I blame food! Obviously duh! I play pc games and at work I spend the day in front of a pc... and I'm still slim and sexy ;)
Blademrk 22nd December 2007, 11:12 Quote
Quote:
Originally Posted by Firehed
Oh that's BS. Clearly our sensationalist media is doing its job.
:D

My parents went to Canada last year and I've got some friends who've emigrated to the US (Texas) and whenever they've gone out for meals the amount of food you get on the plate compared to here is.... awesome, it's like twice the size of what you'd get here.
DXR_13KE 22nd December 2007, 12:34 Quote
In the past when people did not know why something bad happened they would say: "God works in mysterious ways" or "it is the will of God"
now people say: "it was because of the video games" or "video games did this".
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