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A former gaming addict who weighed 32 stone and was suicidal as a result of his addiction has spoke out after turning his life around.
Seven years ago David Breaker, of Ingram Road, Gillingham, would wake up at midday before spending 14 hours playing video games, including World Of Warcraft.
David Breaker speaks to KMTV about his worries for people with gaming addiction
The former Woodlands School pupil admitted his addiction, coupled with his weight problem, left him in a dark place, even considering taking his own life.
He said: "I used to be a gaming addict, I used to spend 14 hours a day playing World of Warcraft and let myself get to 32 stone. I was quite suicidal about it and thought I had nowhere to go in my life.
"People will say their friends are gaming addicts if they play a couple of hours, but gaming addicts are people who are spending 60-80% of their day playing.
"They do everything around gaming and don't do anything apart from that. Normal things like going to work or spending time with the family become second to playing the game and it's quite scary when it happens."
The 36-year-old decided to turn his life around after some brutal warnings from his GP and he now weighs 14 stone.
"He basically told me if I carried on I'd be dead 35," David said.
"He explained it would most likely be a violent heart attack and I needed to make a change."
David, who's now a life coach who specialises in lifestyle and weight loss, said the hardest part of battling his addiction was believing in himself.
He said: "I didn't believe in myself and was telling myself I wasn't worth it but I am and I have something to give to the world."
The Gillingham resident explained he stills enjoys some time to play games, to help him relax, as well as having a snack or two.
He added his motto for dealing with things in moderation is: "It's okay to have a doughnut, but don't have the whole packet."
David lost five stone through healthy eating and exercise before shedding the excess weight with the help of a gastric bypass.
He now fears children are getting into gaming at such a young age and are being enticed to spend too much money on them.
He said: "It's certainly worrying because they're learning their framework from these games and they're achieving lots in these games, but not much in their lives and that's where I got to, the problem I had.
"The really scary thing when you look at these games is when they have 'loot boxes' – where you pay real life money for something in the game and it's recognised as gambling.
"It's leading to very addictive tendencies and preventing people from getting on with their life.
"Awareness needs to be increased. It's not just 'oh my friend plays for a couple of hours, so he's an addict'. Don't dismiss it, it's a true addiction and is ruining people's lives."
He suggested gaming companies who contribute inadvertently to the problem should help support clinics set up by the NHS which combat these addictions.
Last week it was revealed 22 youngsters have been referred to such a clinic in its first 20 weeks.
