In this day and age, it is undeniable that computer games are the most enjoyable way to eliminate stress after school as well as work. It has become ubiquitous over the past ten years with almost ages because of the advances in technology. Access to computers has increased significantly and the number of children playing games on computers has risen too. Although video gaming has adverse positive impacts on both individuals and society as a whole. I would argue that video games undoubtedly pose potential risks to our health both mentally and physically.
Video games cause harm to physical health such as obesity or back pain. Firstly, the most common issues that are faced by individual addicted to playing video games are obesity. According to Haddock, Siegel, and Wikin (2009, March 25), the development of number obese children has been rose gradually. It proves that there are a growing number of people coping with this disease in recent years so that their body missed out on any kind of physical activities and caused epidemition. In accordance with Surendranath (2016, April 30) “[fat] Triglycerides can be taken up by cells and tissues and used for energy or alternatively, they may be stored as fat around our belly and buttocks”. Consequently, the content of calories was not consumed causing high levels of cholesterol and may increase the risk of heart attacks and diabetes. Not only have unsightly appearances but also deal with many poorly. Secondly, back pain from adolescence to adults are time time-consuming in sitting for a long duration of playing games. Therefore, it may increase the danger of many functions in other parts of the body. In fact, the study carried out by Hakala, Rimpela, Saarni, and Salminen (2006, March 8) found the following:
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Neck symptoms have been associated with low or high screen position and shoulder symptoms with high screen position. The use of a keyboard for ≥4 hours during a working day has been associated with shoulder, wrist, or hand pain. (para. 5)
So that gamers would be impacted by the shape and degenerative column. It is often challenging to cure this illness as games are absolutely addictive and largely passive for most children. Then to avoid these negative effects, it is necessary for children should be more active rather than sedentary.
In addition, video games may lead to mental health for both individual relationships as well as social behaviors. With regard to personal contact, children can be actually a consequence of regular gaming. Given that they tend to come back home immediately after school to approach with computer. People spend staring at the screen and not cooperating with those around them have increased significantly as a finding suggested (Simons, 2016). Consequently, this makes them lack of ability to communicate and develop good relationships. The more isolated they are, the more constant gaming they spend. In term of the ways their life has been affected by a bad habit, electronic games is an element of aggressive or violent attitude. To illustrate the effect is to make the game player feel like various game characters though they are in the game and is the one fighting, killing, and being killed (Anderson, Gentile & Buckley, 2017). With a variety of imagination, it has caused many poor criminal cases from an early age hence children will lack thinking and imitate the content of the game in their life. New research has shown that people are using video games excessively due to either inefficient time management skills or symptomatic responses to other underlying problems (Wood, 2007). So parents’ mission needs to transmit a deeper understanding of impacts or arrange timetables to best suit their abilities and interests.
Besides the adverse effects of this phenomenon, there are several benefits of playing computer games. On the other hand, many patients who depend on video games as a treatment are temporarily distracted by pain among physical problems. In Kaslow’s study (n.d) (as cited in CBSNews, 2007) “The best way to reduce pain is a distraction, your mind is somewhere else and you have some fun without control”. The interaction between games and illness is clearly effective therapy so it is crucial that games should be used for some purposes. Regarding mental health, children frequently come under continuing pressure in study, perhaps games are the solution to tackle this key causes of academic burden. In fact, Kansas State University showed that people are addicted to video games in order to alter their mood (as cited in PsychGuides.com, n.d., para. 2). In both cases, it would be beneficial for children to remedy their spirit after stressful intensity. On the other hand, it is not recommended to abuse too many games as children will keep their eyes glued to the screen. As a consequence, they might suffer from many illnesses and adopt sedentary habits or imitate bad behaviors instead of the valuable knowledge that they can gain. As researched by Nichols (2007, July 10) games affect both structure and performance of our brains. This corresponds to their attitude related to children’s acts which caused depend too much on video games similarly being uncontrollable.
In conclusion, excessively playing video games adversely for both mental and physical health. It seems to me that children should control their time playing video games from an early age. As far as I am concerned those video games have both pros and cons which depend on how users utilize them. It is impossible to put a ban on computer games because of their beneficial ways of entertainment or therapy which are related to different purposes of each individual who spends time on it. But games would be a useful tool if children are taught how to use them properly and manage the time spent playing video games.
References
- Anderson, C. A., Gentile, D. A., & Buckley, K. E. (2007, January 11). Violent video games effects on children and adolescents: Theory, Research, and Public Policy. American: Oxford University Press.
- CBSNews. (2007, December 20). Video games may help relieve pain. Retrieved from April 29, 2019, from https://www.cbsnews.com/news/video-games-may-help-relieve-pain/
- Hakala, P. T., Rimpela, A. H., Saarni, L. A., & Salminen, J.J. (2006 March). Frequent computer-related activities increase the risk of neck-shoulder and lower back pain in adolescents. European Journal of Public Health, 16(5), 536-541.
- Haddock, B. L., Siegel, S. R., & Wikin, L. D. (2009, March 25). The addition of a video game to stationary cycling: The impact on energy expenditure in overweight children. The open sports sciences journal, 2, 42-46, from http:// doi: 10.2174/1875399X00902010042
- Nichols, H. (2007, July 10). How video games affect the brains. Medical News Today. Retrieved April 29, 2019, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318345.php
- PsychGuides.com. (n.d.). Video game addiction treatment program options, from https://www.psychguides.com/behavioral-disorders/video-game-addiciton/treatment/
- Surendranath, A. (2016, April 30). Dyslipidemia, hyperlipidemia, lipid disorders, from https://www.medindia.net/patients/patientinfo/dyslipidemia.htm
- Simons, M. (2016, September 23). How technology affects our relationships. Retrieved from May 1, 2019, from https://welldoing.org/article/how-technology-affects-our-relationships
- Wood, R.T.A. (2007, October 23). Problem with the concept of video games “Addition”. Some case study examples. International Journal of Mental Health Addition (2008), 6(2), 169-178.