The study: Active video games that get kids dancing and boxing may provide
significant cardiovascular benefits and calorie burn. A study published online
today in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine noted the
physiological changes in 18 boys and girls aged 11 to 15. The children played
two Kinect games: Dance Central and Kinect Sports Boxing as
well as sedentary video games.
During
the Dance Central game
energy expenditure increased 150 percent over resting rates, and during the
boxing game it went up 263 percent. Compared to passive video gaming, the rates
were 103 percent and 194 percent higher, respectively. Researchers also saw
improvements during the active games in heart rate and peak oxygen uptake, both
markers for cardiovascular health.
What we already know: Exercise
physiologists have had high hopes for active video games ever
since they came on the market, believing they might be a great way to get
sedentary kids to move. With childhood obesity rates at alarming levels,
practically anything that encourages exercise is welcome. Early games however,
promoted little activity, and controllers were cumbersome and got in the way.
However,
as games evolved they allowed kids to really step it up. A 2011 study in the
Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine journal found that games such
as Dance Dance
Revolution and Sportwall helped kids burn more calories
compared to walking on a treadmill at 3 miles an hour. The advent of
controller-less Kinect games (the system uses a webcam-style sensor) allows
players to move more freely.
What this means for you: If you want to get your couch-loving kids to
move, you might try giving them what they already love: video games. Make sure
they’re games that encourage moderate to vigorous exercise—you could even try
them yourself.
The study
authors wrote that while the results of these games were good, there’s no data
to tell if children will still use them several months or even a year down the
road. Even if they are, it’s a good idea to introduce kids to different
types of age-appropriate games and workouts that train various muscles and
stave off boredom.
Do you think active video games are a good way for kids to get
exercise? Let us know in the comments.
Related Stories on TakePart:
Jeannine Stein, a California native, wrote about health for the Los Angeles Times. In her pursuit of a healthy lifestyle she has taken
countless fitness classes, hiked in Nepal, and has gotten in a boxing ring. Email Jeannine | TakePart.com
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