OK, we all know that video games and even excessive amounts of TV will promote weight gain.  I mean, I remember as I grew up, we ate many a dinner in front of the TV.  It shows today.

So what’s the alternative?  Kids won’t leave their video games.

Yes, moderation is one route — but what do you do when moderation by itself just doesn’t work?  Here is an excerpt from an article I found on Medical News Today:

“”We know if kids play video games that require movement, they burn more energy than they would while sitting and playing traditional screen games. That’s pretty obvious even without our data,” says Lorraine Lanningham-Foster, Ph.D., Mayo obesity researcher and study leader. “The point is that children — very focused on screen games — can be made healthier if activity is a required part of the game.”"

Soooo…. have you seen the new Nintendo WII game machine?  It features games where you can use its controllers to control movement and perform actions.  Could the Nintendo WII be the next “weight loss tool” to help obese children who won’t part with their game machines the machine to help them get active again?

There are several sports games that are controlled through user actions — perfect to help the obese kid get some exercise — and to help kids get a little more active.

Now I would hope that you don’t take me seriously — playing video games WILL NOT help you lose weight by itself, in fact you probably still want your kids to enjoy the outdoors and have some REAL playtime where their entire body is moving.  Combined with exercise, kids (AND adults) need to eat properly.  Exercising, while snacking on pop, chips, candy and chocolate won’t do anything to tighten the belly.

Everything needs to be done in moderation — including playing video games (even if they do make you sweat).

Does it sound crazy? Probably not.  I’ve seen on TV a company that is developing games that are powered by “sweat” — meaning, you gotta exercise to play the game. I’m sure we’ll read more about this in the weeks and months to come…

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