350 million individuals displaying addictive behaviors every year

People around the world engage in video gaming and gambling behaviors which are classified as addictive behaviors. They may or may not result in significant health consequences. Such behaviors may cause disorders to develop because of addicted behaviors associated with functional impairment or distress.

Video gaming is evident in modern culture, especially among young people. However, in recent years there has been an increase in world-wide recognition among health professionals and academics that specific patterns of video games may lead to marked impairment in many aspects of life. These include; personal, family, social, educational, occupational and other vital areas of functioning and psychological distress for some players.

People who take part in games should be aware of the time they spend on such activities, especially when it is to the exclusion of other daily activities, and to changes in their physical or psychological health and social functioning.

In some countries, gambling is considered as a form of entertainment, defined by betting, wagering mechanics and monetization features. Similar to gaming, gambling can lead to gambling disorder which is associated with distress or impairment.

The increasing convergence of gambling and gaming may give rise to migration from games to gambling and co-occurrence of the two disorders. The health concerns associated with such behavior also include other aspects of health such as insufficient physical activity, unhealthy diet, eyesight and hearing problems, and musculoskeletal problems, sleep deprivation, and associated health conditions such as depression and venous thromboembolism.

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