Average age of adult computer game addicts is 35, US study shows reports on a study at the CDC, Emory University, and Andrews University with stats on how overweight and depressed game players supposedly are. This report seems to present pretty strong conclusions on the topic, going to far as to attempt to define a distinction between play and playing video games, characterizing the latter as "play like activities." Here's a bit from this "science like study":

Dr Brian Primack, from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, suggests that many video games are different enough from original forms of play that they may be better defined as "play-like activities."

He said: "There are noteworthy differences between the oldest forms of play - for example chase games - and today's 'play-like activities.'

"These play-like activities may stimulate the right centres of the brain to be engaging.

"However, the differences between today's 'play-like activities' and original forms of play may illuminate some of the observed health-related correlates discovered."

Dr. Primack said the greatest challenge will be maintaining the balance.

He added: "How do we simultaneously help the public steer away from imitation play-like activities, harness the potentially positive aspects of video games, and keep in perspective the overall place of video games in our society?