Active Video Games Help Kids Exercise

Video games and kids is a subject that spawns multiple debates in a household.  A question as simple as ‘Do I let my kids play video games?’ is followed with concerns as to whether certain video games lead to problems for kids such as increased violence, school performance, attention spans, and obesity.

A recent study from the University of Hong Kong provides some evidence that active video games can help address some exercise and health concerns.  According to this new study children playing active video games have higher heart rates and burn four times as many calories a minute than children playing passive video games.

“Technological change in our homes, schools and workplaces has meant the amount of walking we do has declined significantly, and in its place, disproportionately greater amounts of time are spent seated,” said lead researcher Alison M. McManus, from the university’s Institute of Human Performance. “With childhood obesity posing the largest international health riddle, converting seated activities into active ones is an important goal.”

Parents need to be creative in their endeavors to get children active, McManus said. Children play video games, because it is fun, exciting and challenging, but it is largely conducted seated, she added.

“The children in this study had a lot of fun playing media games and burnt up calories, showing that making video game media active can certainly help in our efforts to get children active,” McManus said. “The challenge is for industry to continue developing new and exciting games that integrate physical activity into the virtual game environment.”

The report was published in the September issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

Susan Finn, chairwoman of the American Council for Fitness & Nutrition, noted there needs to be a balance between how much children eat and the amount of exercise they get.

“When it comes to obesity, the other part of the equation is the consumption of calories,” Finn said. “This half of the solution is often more difficult. The American Council for Fitness and Nutrition has partnered with PE4life and The American Dietetic Association Foundation to teach energy balance — what you do and what you eat has to be in balance. This report deals with half of the equation and demonstrates that there are many ways to get kids active,” she said.

Common Sense Media is a great resource for parents in understanding media content and media’s impact on children.  They list the top titles for getting your kids moving as part of a series of top media picks.

Best Games to Get Your Kids Moving

Source: National Library of Medicine, Common Sense Media