Using thin avatars in gaming can help you stay in shape
How you play virtual games can impact real life decisions as researchers have found that gamers who create thin virtual avatars of themselves are likely to exercise more and stay in shape than those who play as an obese avatar of themselves.
New York
"I think the findings have real-world applications, suchas using avatars in video games to 'nudge' people to increase physicalactivity," said one of the researchers Jorge Pena from the University ofCalifornia, Davis in the US.
The studywas published in the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication.
Theresearchers conducted an experiment where participants were randomly assignedto a normal weight or obese avatar as well as normal weight or obese opponentin a virtual tennis game.
Theavatar and the opponent were essentially the same male virtual character.
The bodysize of the avatar was manipulated by setting a different Body Mass Index (BMI)for the normal or obese virtual character.
Thenormal weight character was thin and had a BMI of 18.6 (where normal range BMIis 18.5 to 24.9). The obese character had a BMI of 32.1.
Theresearchers found that regardless of participants' own BMI, those using thinavatars showed increased physical activity compared to those using obeseavatars.
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