Video games are often an activity associated with the young, but a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention paint quite a different picture. Researchers found that the average gamer is age 35, often overweight, introverted, and may be depressed.

    The CDC looked at the behavior of 552 adults aged 19 to 90 from the Seattle-Tacoma area. Of these, 249 （45 percent） were video game players. Men accounted for 56 percent of the video game players.

    Men who played video games weighed more and used the internet more than other men. Women who played video games reported greater levels of depression and poorer overall heath than non-gamers. Adult video gamers were also found to be less outgoing, and less social and assertive than non-gamers.

    Researcher James Weaver and his colleagues suggested that for adults, video gaming may be a form of "digital self-medication". They said women in particulary may immerse themselves in brain-engaging digital environments as a means of self-distraction.

    Adult gamers of both sexes relied more on the internet for social support than non-gamers. This also supports prior research that suggests that adult gamers may "sacrifice real-world social activities to play video games."

    The findings of this study were consistent with prior research of adolescent video gamers which tied video game playing to sedentary habits, weight issues and mental health concerns.

    In conclusion, the researchers believe that there are "measurable" associations between playing video games and health risks. The researchers reported that as hypothesized, a higher body weight and greater number of "poor mental health days" differentiated adult video gamers from non-gamers.

    The study was published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine.

    电脑游戏一般都和年经人有关，但是疾病防控中心的一项最新研究发现，人们的这种看法是错误的，研究人员发现电脑游戏爱好者平均年龄35岁，大多数人体态肥胖，性格内向，容易沮丧

    疾病防控中心主要对美国西雅图-塔科马地区的552位19到90岁的成人进行调查。552位人中，245位（45%）是电脑游戏爱好者。男人占了总人数的56%.

    研究发现打电脑游戏的男人比不打游戏的人体重重很多而且花在网络上的时间也比较多。

    打电脑游戏的女人则比不打游戏的女人沮丧抑郁而且身体状况比较差。同时研究发现打游戏的成年人相比较不打游戏者而言性格不那么随和，不善于交际，而且思想比较武断。

    研究人员詹姆斯维沃和它的同事们说道，对成年人来说，计算机游戏是"数码自我疗伤"的一种方式。他们说女人沉迷于电脑游戏是一种自我分心的方式。

    计算机游戏成年人相比较不打游戏者更喜欢依赖于网络寻求社会帮助。这同时也支持上面的研究"打游戏成年人把生活中的社会活动时间都用于打电脑游戏了。"

    本研究和先前发表的青少年游戏者关于体重问题和精神健康问题的观点不谋而合。

    最后，研究人员认为打电脑游戏和身体健康状况之间有可测量的关系。同时研究人员还猜测，明显体态肥胖，长时间的心理低落将会把打游戏成年人和不打游戏人分别出来。

    本项研究发表于《美国医学预防杂志》。