Ask ten parents what they think about video games and you will likely receive ten different answers. Those same ten parents will likely share varying opinions on what is causing the American childhood obesity epidemic and what can be done to solve it.
The percentage of overweight children in America has grown from 6.5% in the 1990s to about 20% in 2011, according to Buzzle.com. Is there a bridge that can connect the usually sedentary gaming process to the exercise that many Americans agree kids need to reverse the ever-growing average weight of children?
Exergaming, as it is sometimes called, has roots dating back to the 1980s, but ballooned in popularity in 2006 when Nintendo released the Wii gaming system to an eager marketplace. According to Wikipedia, exergaming “is a term used for video games that are also a form of exercise. Exergaming relies on technology that tracks body movement or reaction.” These types of games, which now include those produced by Nintendo, Cyber Coach, NeoRacer, Xbox and others, actively promote users to get up and use their bodies as the driving force.
Games like Wii’s Just Dance, Wii Fit, and The Biggest Loser make exercise fun and can easily make one, two, even three hours of physical movement go by without a second thought. Although some parents still strongly agree that exercise by video game does not replace time spent playing sports or running around outside, the cardiovascular benefits can be just as effective.
Furthermore, one concern parents often raise about children playing video games is that the activity was often done solitarily, not encouraging children to grow socially. In contrast, active video games frequently involve a social aspect and discourage the zoning out so common with traditional games. Southington middle school student, Lindsay Porter, says “most of my friends have the Wii and a few have the Kinect. They are both a great workout and are really fun. With the Kinect you don’t even need a remote.” No longer do games play out to tinny jingles. Modern-day exergames contain soundtracks that rival the best ipod playlists.
Parents may have mixed feelings about video games in general, but many agree that a game that gets kids off the couch, dancing and exercising with their friends is not such a bad way to spend a few hours.
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