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Online Games against Child ObesityCan online games serve in the war against obesity by helping to promote healthy eating habits among children? According to a new study, the weight of advertisements in online games on the young players' choice of food is as heavy as appreciated; when children were exposed to healthy snacks in advergames, that is what they ate. A similar approach was given to junk food, obviously.
The media is rightfully accused in the increasing obesity rates among children and youth of the US, especially in the lowest echelon. However, a couple of researchers from the Georgetown University, Washington DC concluded that the power of media be reversed in the favor of children's health, and that an online game sponsored by a low-fat, fiber-rich brand can be as tempting and prospering online as a game promoting Chips Ahoy!
About the Research
Thirty 9-10 years old children of African American origins and low income background took part in the research. They were divided into three groups, all of them played a pacman style online game; in the first group they were offered an incentive in the form of healthy, natural snacks or beverages, while in the second group, it was a high calorie, low nutritional value reward. And in the third, control group, the kids were asked to choose a snack of the mix of healthy and junk food suggestions before playing the game.
In all three groups, (including the last one where no reward was offered for playing the game), the kids were intrigued by the game for about 10 minutes in average. At the end of the playing sessions, the kids had consumed whatever was promoted as a reward, whether it was an apple in the first group or a bag of potato chips as in the second, what led to the research's conclusions that even a short exposure given in an online advergame can affect the eating habits of its players.
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