For almost eight decades, video games have been widespread. Over the past decade, PC (personal computer) and console gaming have become more popular among teenagers, along with excessive time spent playing them. Over the years, there has been widespread debate about whether these video games do more harm than good. Many researchers have claimed that video games could potentially lead to addiction, lack of physical activity, and worsen already existing mental disorders in adolescents who play them. However, without supporting evidence, it can easily be implied that they have a positive influence, in the medical sense of the term. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay Thus, it distorts society's view on how video games can negatively affect the player and creates a false narrative about the real dangers of excessive video gaming. Before we get into the dangers of video games, it's important to discuss how they can actually benefit gamers, from a health perspective, with regular play. In an article from the University of Toronto, whose study was led by psychology researchers, it was found that "one of the benefits of playing action games could be an increased ability to learn with precision the dynamics of new sensorimotor tasks”. These skills learned are the same skills surgeons must possess during laparoscopic surgery, which involves inserting a small camera into the body that allows the surgeon to use high-precision tools inside the abdominal cavity via remote control. studies have shown that playing video games can provide some cognitive benefits; which has led some researchers to advocate for regular playing of video games. Peter Gray Ph.D., an academic and research professor of psychology at Boston College, wrote an article for Psychology Today explaining how "video gaming can improve basic mental abilities." He goes on to summarize recent research that has led non-gamers to consistently participate in an action video game. These action video games often involve rapid movement and decision-making as well as multitasking. The results of this study allowed the researchers to conclude “that those who played the video game improved on measures of basic perceptual and cognitive abilities, while those in the control group did not.” ". Although research like this paints the narrative that all video games positively affect those who play them due to their history of improving cognitive abilities such as perception, attention, memory, and decision-making , it is important not to let these findings overshadow the research that proves the negative consequences of excessive gaming. In 2017, it was reported that video gamers collectively spent around 3 billion hours per week gaming and in the United States, 150 million people habitually play video games every week. This amount of unrestricted gaming has led the World Health Organization (WHO) to classify a new related disorder in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), called "video gaming disorder." The WHO, which is an active member of the United Nations Development Group, defines gaming disorder as follows: Gaming disorder is defined in the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) as a model of gaming behavior (“digital-gaming” or “video gaming”) characterized by impaired control over the game, a priorityincreasing emphasis on gaming over other activities to the extent that gaming takes precedence over other interests and daily activities, and the continuation or intensification of gaming despite the emergence of negative consequences. Additionally, this gambling addiction is also included in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Illness (DSM-5), which is used by mental health specialists to diagnose mental disorders and illnesses. . Harvard physician and medical instructor Ranna Parekh goes on to explain that “DSM-5 includes substance dependence disorders, such as alcohol, tobacco, stimulants, marijuana, and opioids” (Parekh, 2018 ). It is obvious why excessive online gaming has become such a problem. that addiction to this product has become comparable to that of gambling and drug addiction. In 2019, a class action lawsuit was proposed against video game company Epic Games for its wildly popular and addictive game "Fortnite." USA Today covered this story by contacting the law firm representing the two parents behind the lawsuit, who claim the action-packed game is "as addictive and potentially harmful as cocaine." The game, which was partly designed by psychologists and statisticians, includes features that provide rewards that keep the player wanting more and more. Games like these, which offer such tempting rewards, train the brain to release the “feel good” hormone, dopamine. This release of dopamine encourages the brain to continue playing because of the satisfaction gained. The constant release of this hormone when playing video games can lead to possible addiction and lack of self-control in gamers, this possibility multiplies when we take into account children and adolescents. These young people are even more sensitive to it due to the lack of development. in the self-control area of ​​their brain. The majority of people who play video games play them on consoles or computers. Most of the games played are action or sports themed and involve the player playing on a controller or keyboard. Only a small percentage of games actually require the user to be active and involved in the exercise. Therefore, the same number of hours a teenager chooses to spend in front of a screen corresponds to the same amount of time they do not participate in physical activity. This onset of sedentary lifestyle could be detrimental to adolescents or anyone of any age. Sedentary behavior, as described by the Sedentary Behavior Research Network (SBRN), is “any wakeful behavior characterized by energy expenditure ≤ 1.5 metabolic equivalents (METs), while sitting, lying, or lying down.” Editor-in-Chief Erin Michos MD of John Hopkins Medicine published an article explaining the risks of a sedentary lifestyle. She talks about how people are putting themselves at risk by exposing themselves to “health problems, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer,” which, if severe enough, could lead to death. Time spent in the same positions or without movement could even lead to thrombosis. Thrombosis occurs when a blood clot gets stuck in a vital vein, which stops blood flow to other parts of the body and can even cause blockage of a vital vein. artery. The National Center for Biotechnology (NCBI) published a case study of a man experiencing leg pain and swelling after spending nearly a quarter of the day in bed playing video games. After taking a closer look, doctors confirmed that he was suffering from extensive deep vein thrombosis. Furthermore,.