Owatonna, MN Correspondent-Video gamers are absolutely not athletes. A partial definition of the word athlete, from the Encarta Dictionary, is “somebody with the abilities to participate in physical exercise.” (emphasis is mine) Sitting on a sofa or at a desk, manipulating a joystick or computer keyboard, can in no way be construed as physical exercise. It’s unlikely one’s heart rate increases when playing a video game. A gamer’s respiration doesn’t increase. They likely do not break a sweat or experience oxygen-deprived muscle aches due to the buildup of excess lactic acid. Metabolism is certainly not elevated noticeably in those who play video games. Continue reading →