We have written a few stories about the fitness video game trend (in fact, we just posted one the other day), but one new study has found that such games don’t offer kids any benefits, according to a HealthDay report, and questions whether using video games as a way to get kids active is appropriate or not
The study, published in the journal Pediatrics, examined the physical gaming activity of two groups of kids (78 children between the ages 9 and 12) over a three-month period. Each child was given a Nintendo Wii system (none of the kids had ever owned one) plus accompanying accessories. One group of kids could choose from a selection of five fitness-based titles such as Wii Fit Plus, while the second group played “non-active” video games like Mario Kart Wii.
According to HealthDay, “[allowing the children to choose] their own games was important, and they were given an opportunity to select one at the start and then another new one after six weeks. ‘We wanted to be sure they were getting something they wanted and we weren’t foisting one on them,’ said study author Dr. Tom Baranowski, professor of pediatrics in the Children’s Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Baranowski said they expected that starting at week one there would be a substantial increase in physical activity in the group that played the active games, but not in the inactive game group. They expected another surge after the children chose their second new game midway through the study. No increase in physical activity occurred, though.”
One physician HealthDay spoke with said the Wii is using exercise as marketing to sell games, not to get kids fit.
[Via KLJB-TV: ‘Active’ video games may not boost kids’ fitness]