Those old clichés about sitting around playing video games being bad for your health may be overturned by new research into Second Life, the online virtual world with over 10 million addicts - I mean, users - worldwide. According to research from Stanford University, having an avatar who is thinner/more attractive than your real self is good for self-esteem because you think you look that good in real life, too. Even more interesting, if you exercise in Second Life, the study found that could motivate you to do the same in your real, first life.

Or you might just choose to chow down and do all your socialising via your PC from now on . . . (which wouldn't be that much of a stretch for me, I must admit).

Via Techdirt.