Montreal Gazette
November 03, 2008
In the fight against childhood obesity, grim statistics continue to be reported.
One in four children in the U.S. spend at least three hours a day sitting in front of the computer surfing the net but not doing school work - up from 22 per cent in 2003.
Yet as an international conference being held in Montreal this week shows, the news isn't all bleak. In fact, one of the evils that's been blamed for contributing toward obesity in children - video games - is now being used to promote physical activity.
It's called exergaming, video games that spur children (as well as their parents) to use all their limbs rather than only their thumbs.
Linda Carson, a professor of physical education West Virginia University, acknowledged that exergaming, popularized by such games as Dance Dance Revolution and Nintendo's Wii Sports, is controversial.
"There are some folks who feel that by promoting physical activity through the use of video games, children are being socially isolated or not encouraged to go outside and play," Carson said. "There are some opponents who say that it takes away from traditional physical education exercise."