Excess TV time and video games are often blamed for contributing to the epidemic of childhood obesity in the U.S. A new study contradicts the notion. video games can actually improve physical activity in children and help in keeping them healthy.
"A lot of people say screen time is a big factor in the rising tide of childhood obesity," lead author Dr. Todd Miller said in a news release. "But if a kid hates playing dodge ball but loves Dance Dance Revolution why not let him work up a sweat playing E-games?"
To examine the advantages of playing active games on children, researchers at the George Washington University looked at 104 children studying in grades three to eight. All the participants were divided into three groups. The first group played "Dance Dance Revolution (DDR)", the second group played active video game "Winds of Orbis: An Active Adventure (Orbis)" and the third group attended a regular gym class.
Children involved in the study were staying in neighborhoods without any facilities for play or any other physical activity. "If E-games can get them to move in school then maybe they'll play at home too and that change could boost their physical activity to a healthier level," Miller said.
At the end of the analysis, researchers found active video games as effective as physical education activities in boosting children's physical activity.
However, the researchers found active video games not effective in improving physical activity levels in teens. Findings of the study have been published in the journal Games for Health.
The findings come at a time when childhood obesity has more than tripled in the U.S. over the past 30 years. According to CDC, obese children are at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases like high blood pressure, cholesterol, prediabetes, bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, and social and psychological problems like stigmatization and poor self-esteem.
