Study: Playing Video Games Can Lead To Health Issues

BOSTON (CBS) - Video games are very popular, and lots of kids are playing them often. Now, a new study says that gaming could be hurting some kids in school and in their social life.

Like many teens, David Kennedy likes to play video games.

"I usually play for an hour a day after I get home from school," said David.

And like many moms, Kena Goodwin limits how long her kids can play, to just an hour a day on weekends.

"I don't want them sitting in front of the video game, not interacting with one another. They sit there mesmerized. They don't move. They don't get around and do things. So, generally they'll play in the afternoon after they've been out, they've done sports," said Goodwin.

WBZ-TV's Jonathan Elias reports.

A new study in the journal "Pediatrics" finds children who have trouble fitting in with other kids are more prone to become hooked on videogames, and once they're addicted, they're also more likely to suffer mental health problems.

"Those kids, which numbered approximately nine percent of the 3,000, had a higher incidence of depression, anxiety, social phobias and social isolation," said Dr. Michael Rich of Children's Hospital.

Experts like Dr. Rich aren't exactly surprised by the latest findings. He says parents should limit kids to one to two hours a day and only after they've eaten, done their homework, chores and some kind of physical activity.

"Kids can go overboard, and part of parenting is hlping kids balance their lives and do those things that make them more of what they wanted to be, rather than get sucked into them," said

Dr. Rich says if a child isn't doing well in school, or isn't getting enough exercise or sleep because they're playing too much, or they're suffering anxiety or depression, parents need to start setting even stricter limits.