Video-gaming – one of the most popular leisure activities globally – is associated with certain health risks but also has the potential to help in the context of noncommunicable disease (NCD) prevention. For the WHO European Region, where only five NCDs (cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and mental disorders) account for more than 80% of all premature deaths, opportunities to use visual gaming practices in the context of NCD prevention are especially important.
To discuss the future of video games in the context of health, the WHO European Office for Prevention and Control of NCDs, together with the WHO Centre of Excellence for Quality of Care and Patient Safety, is hosting the webinar “Video games and noncommunicable diseases: future opportunities and challenges”. Main topics of the webinar: The “Video games and noncommunicable diseases” webinar will feature a wide range of experts who will discuss: the main trends in video-gaming in the context of health; how gaming can reduce exposure to NCD risk factors (tobacco, alcohol, physical inactivity and poor diet); ways to minimize harmful impacts of gaming; how gaming can improve quality of health care.