Recently, almost all of the gaming I've done has been what I (and what probably most other people) would call "binge gaming." That is, playing for long periods of time, usually only every once and a while. This is what I do. I tend to be so busy doing other games, that if I find only a short time to relax, I don't bother playing games, and may read or just sit for a bit. However, with longer available time, I often spend it playing four or five (or more) hours at once. This happens about three times a month.
Now I previously mentioned some of the health benefits gaming gives you (look here, it's provided in small amounts throughout, mostly regarding mental health). These were found using people who played for a small amount of time, regularly. Where binge gamers may play for roughly the same amount of time total, they play in large, irregular, chunks. This is similar to the way binge drinking works. Now, games and alcohol share very few similarities, so in this respect the analogy fails. However, the behavior I am explaining is very similar.
Binge drinking is, of course, very dangerous. While a beer, maybe once a day at dinner, does have it's own problems, drinking seven beers one night a week is far more dangerous. This is because your system is not made to handle the overabundance of toxins entering the body. But does a similar effect come into place with binge gaming? Gaming for a little bit every day lets off steam, and allows relaxation. However, what side effects could doing it all at once bring?
This is an important thing to consider for the future of gamers. What health problems could this bring? I know many people who follow a similar regimen of game playing, where they are usually too busy to play. Research needs to be done to establish the effects of these binging sessions. As people in their youth begin with these, we need to know that it will not affect anything later on. I very much hope their are no long term problems.
Just, you know, to make me feel better, and for my future health, I would like it to be confirmed.
Now I previously mentioned some of the health benefits gaming gives you (look here, it's provided in small amounts throughout, mostly regarding mental health). These were found using people who played for a small amount of time, regularly. Where binge gamers may play for roughly the same amount of time total, they play in large, irregular, chunks. This is similar to the way binge drinking works. Now, games and alcohol share very few similarities, so in this respect the analogy fails. However, the behavior I am explaining is very similar.
Binge drinking is, of course, very dangerous. While a beer, maybe once a day at dinner, does have it's own problems, drinking seven beers one night a week is far more dangerous. This is because your system is not made to handle the overabundance of toxins entering the body. But does a similar effect come into place with binge gaming? Gaming for a little bit every day lets off steam, and allows relaxation. However, what side effects could doing it all at once bring?
This is an important thing to consider for the future of gamers. What health problems could this bring? I know many people who follow a similar regimen of game playing, where they are usually too busy to play. Research needs to be done to establish the effects of these binging sessions. As people in their youth begin with these, we need to know that it will not affect anything later on. I very much hope their are no long term problems.
Just, you know, to make me feel better, and for my future health, I would like it to be confirmed.
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