NYC Video Game Store Joins The Fight… Against Obesity?

What comes to most people’s minds when they think of video gamers?  For many it would almost certainly be an unhealthy couch potato. Then who would guess that a NYC video game store would be trying to do something about it? 

The East Village’s vintage/next gen video game retailer 8 Bit and Up Video Games announced today that it has entered the fight against obesity by offering its customers wellness consulting and a complete line of natural, healthy food supplements/replacements and other products. Obesity has grown to epic highs (70% of people in the US are overweight) and 8 Bit And Up wants to do something to change the stereotypes that portray gamers as being unhealthy and overweight.  Store manager Marcus Richardson said:  “We got tired of hearing the 'fat lazy gamer' jokes and decided to do something about it.  We are challenging our customers to get healthy. One of our workers has already lost 10 pounds in two weeks and he is still going.  We can show gamers and non-gamers, young and old, how to eat healthy, reduce weight and increase energy quickly.  The products we sell are amazing and they are all natural. There is something for everybody, including people who want to lose weight, gain weight, increase endurance/energy, build muscle, improve their skin, strengthen their hair, improve heart health and even smell better.  As far as I know, there is no other video game store on earth that is doing this.” Obesity is at an all time high as these statistics dramatically show: 1. 70% of the US population is overweight.2. 30% of these people are clinically obese.3. One out of 50 are morbidly obese.4. 25% of young people are overweight.5. 16% of young people are clinically obese.6. 10% of children 2-5 are seriously overweight.7. Obesity and being overweight are major risk factors for chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes, hypertension, stroke and certain forms of cancer.8. Obesity has been labeled a modern epidemic.9. Obesity is on the verge of surpassing smoking as the #1 cause of preventable death.10. People are not eating well.  70% of all deaths are from heart disease, stroke, cancer and 50% of these are diet related. Anybody who is serious about losing weight and improving their health can come into the store and get a free wellness evaluation along with recommendations on how to make improvements from Joe at 8 Bit And Up, seven days a week between noon and 6pm.  And you don’t even have to play video games;  8 Bit And Up is also interested in working with local schools and other organizations that would like to join the fight.  
 Located at the 35 Saint Marks Place (corner of 2nd Avenue and 8th Street), 8 Bit And Up Video Games is one of the most innovative game retailers in the country. They provide products, services and an atmosphere that is inviting to everyone from the casual gamer to the hard core gaming enthusiast.  While the NYC video game store specializes in vintage games, they sell a full line of new and used games, consoles and accessories. They also buy and trade games and gear.