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Exergaming as a Physical Activity for Children

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Exergaming as a Physical Activity for Children
Jackie Fernandez
April 12, 2011
Engl 102 – 080
Research Essay

“Let’s Get Physical, Physical…” Physical inactivity is a serious health issue among children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends one hour of physical activity, daily, in order to stay healthy. While watching television is a favorite sedentary pastime and a popular choice of entertainment, the use of video games has been dominantly proliferate among children. Video gaming is often described as an unhealthy form of activity for children because it requires them to sit immobile in front of the television screen while engaging in these video games which condemns them to an unhealthy diet of inactivity. The time spent on video gaming has been steadily increasing. According to GRABstats.com, sixty-five percent of American households play computer or video games with twenty-five percent of those being children. Frequent use of video games has been linked to the increasing rates of child obesity as well as overweight children. Thirty-two percent of children are obese or overweight (Guy & et al. 2011). Since the growing rates of video game use and child obesity are directly proportional to each other, it has been suggested that high rates of video game use is a contributing factor in such a sedentary lifestyle. As these rates continue to rise, promoting physical activity is important. To promote physical activity, the gaming industry has simultaneously introduced a new form of video gaming called “exergaming”, which is the use of video games that provide physical exercise. The term “exergaming” derives from the words exercise and gaming (Exergamefitness.com). Exergames are interactive video games such as Wii Sports, Wii Fit for the Wii and Dance Central for the Xbox Kinect. These types of games require the player to get off their feet and virtually participate in the activity and therefore requiring a lot of movement. Exergaming promotes physical activity and as children love


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