Beverage Association blames games for obesity

The Mayor of San Francisco Gavin Newsom made a brave proposal earlier this week and called for surcharge to be bought to bear on fizzy drinks (specifically those containing high fructose corn syrup) in an effort help combat obesity. Obviously, the proposal didn't go down to well with some companies and the American Beverage Association has hit back hard lately by shifting blame to computer games instead.

"It makes no sense to single out any one single cause of obesity, which is a complex problem," said Kevin Keane, senior Vice President of the ABA to the International Herald Tribune

The article went on to say that "Keane said that if Newsom really wanted to fight the fat, he would take on computer and video game companies, which Keane said lured children inside when they should 'be outside burning calories.'"

So, computer games make you fat? Obviously Keane hasn't played Guitar Hero 3. Or Dance Dance Revolution. Or House of the Dead. Or anything on the Wii. Instead, he must play those games where you get an injection of calories when you win. Now we see where he's coming from.

Seriously though, do you think computer games are a cause of obesity, or is it more of an attitude and motivation problem? Should I be worried about piling on the pounds in this line of work? Let us know your thoughts in the forums.