Obama On Health: Step Away From The Games

With health care a major issue in the U.S., President Barack Obama said during a speech to the American Medical Association that quitting smoking, regular cancer screenings, and encouraging youngsters to play fewer video games are important keys health. As reported on by the Wall Street Journal's Health Blog: "...We can all [can] agree ... to invest more in preventive care so that we can avoid illness and disease in the first place." "That starts with each of us taking more responsibility for our health and the health of our children. It means quitting smoking, going in for that mammogram or colon cancer screening." "It means going for a run or hitting the gym, and raising our children to step away from the video games and spend more time playing outside." President Obama is no stranger to the subject of video games. During his presidential campaign, he had ads in games such as Madden NFL and Burnout Paradise. He also reportedly purchased a Nintendo Wii for his daughters last Christmas. But he has also made multiple references to video games, pointing to them as a hindrance to kids' education and overall success as maturing adults. Recently, ESA president Mike Gallagher cited Obama's game savviness as an important step for the industry, noting: "It's the first time we have a video game console in the White House -- we understand that the president has a Wii. Having a degree of exposure to the technology is very, very positive."