The Myth About Active Video Games for Kids
By: NBC News
Updated: February 27, 2012
There's no question, it is possible for kids to work up a sweat dancing and biking their way through interactive video games.
New research indicates kids aren't necessarily more physically active just because they're playing active video games.
Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Susan Joy said, "I don't think this is so much discouraging as it's just to me more of a reality check."
The study from Baylor College of Medicine included about 80 kids. Half were given active video games, giving them the opportunity to move their bodies. The other half received more sedentary games.
All of the children wore accelerometers that measured their activity levels for more than a month, and researchers say they were shocked by the results.
Dr. Susan Joy said, "They ended up finding not much of a difference between the two groups."
Even though lab studies have shown kids can get an intense workout with video games, it appears that in the real world setting of this study kids were just going through the motions finding low-intensity ways of playing the games.
However, there is other evidence that active video games can help seniors improve balance and coordination, but the kiddos may benefit more from the real thing.
New research indicates kids aren't necessarily more physically active just because they're playing active video games.
Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Susan Joy said, "I don't think this is so much discouraging as it's just to me more of a reality check."
The study from Baylor College of Medicine included about 80 kids. Half were given active video games, giving them the opportunity to move their bodies. The other half received more sedentary games.
All of the children wore accelerometers that measured their activity levels for more than a month, and researchers say they were shocked by the results.
Dr. Susan Joy said, "They ended up finding not much of a difference between the two groups."
Even though lab studies have shown kids can get an intense workout with video games, it appears that in the real world setting of this study kids were just going through the motions finding low-intensity ways of playing the games.
However, there is other evidence that active video games can help seniors improve balance and coordination, but the kiddos may benefit more from the real thing.
