W. Va. To Use 'Dance Dance Revolution' To Slim Kids
February 1, 2007 - SAN FRANCISCO - West Virginia,
which has the worst childhood obesity problem in the
United States, is stepping up plans to use Konami Corp.'s
"Dance Dance Revolution" to battle the bulge
in its schools.
The state, which plans to put the popular dancing video
game in every one of its public schools, said on Wednesday
research suggested that it helped put a halt to weight
gain.
Preliminary results from a 24-week study of 50 overweight
or obese children, aged 7 to 12, showed that those who
played the game at home for at least 30 minutes five
days per week maintained their weight and saw a reduction
in some risk factors for heart disease and diabetes.Another
piece of kit is the Sportwall, which gives kids a chance
to hit something as hard and as fast as they can. Lights
flash on that you need to hit with a piece of foam.
You score points for the number of lights you hit in
a certain time. You can play against a pal or in a team.
The study's control group included a dozen children
who did not play the game for the first 12 weeks, then
did so for remainder of the study period. Those children
piled on an average of 6 pounds during the first portion
of the study but saw their weight stabilize in the second
half.
The West Virginia Public Employees Insurance Agency
sponsored the research project, which primarily involved
children of its policy holders.
Food intake was not monitored as part of the study,
said Emily Murphy, a pediatric exercise physiologist
from the West Virginia University School of Medicine's
pediatrics department, who was part of the research
team.
Murphy said that, prior to the study, most of the children
reported feeling awkward about participating in gym
and physical activity at school.
Following the study, children from the group reported
feeling more confident and willing to try other exercises,
she said.
Murphy West Virginia plans to develop after-school
clubs for playing the game.
"It's going to allow kids to be active in an after-school
activity that's not sports," she said.
Obesity has been rising fast around the globe, prompting
health experts to warn that lifestyle-related illnesses
like heart disease and diabetes may cut average life
expectancy for generations of youth.
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