Playing these games may be incorporated into a public health drive that will help children stay away from their sedentary lifestyle.
Sir Liam Donaldson, the government’s chief medical officer, stated in his annual report that playing video games is one of the major causes of obesity in children and young adults. Children are so engrossed in playing their video games that stopping this activity may be impossible.
Researchers and public health strategists are now looking at ways to use interactive video games such as the Sony EyeToy and the Nintendo Wii as a solution to the growing obesity problem.
To find out the efficacy of interactive video games in decreasing body fat, a study was carried out in the East Midlands. Childhood obesity has greatly risen in this region of UK with the number of obese boys increasing from 0.9 percent in 1995 to 17.3 percent in 2006 and the number of obese girls increasing from 12 percent to 14.7 percent in the same time period.
Researchers studied a group comprised of 14 boys and 1 girl. Their energy expenditure was monitored at rest, while playing traditional video game, and while playing interactive video games. Their heart rate was also monitored for the ten-minute period.
Results of this study showed that the children’s heart rate could be increased and sustained at moderate to strong levels when in active game play. Researchers concluded that playing highly interactive games could provide the recommended amount of physical activity a child needs if it is done for at least 30 minutes, three times a week.
Researchers also reported that compared to playing inactive traditional video games, playing interactive video games could increase the amount of calories burned by 42 percent and could burn as 7.5 lbs. of fat if played for at least one hour everyday for a year.
A second phase of the study is currently being done. For this phase, video game consoles are given for 12 weeks to 20 children who are part of a support group for overweight and obese children. This study is expected to be finished in a few months.
Sir Liam said, “The findings will be used to develop a strategy to encourage behavioral change in children and promote involvement in physical activity.”
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