Exergaming- Active Video Games

Life of today’s kids have become more sedentary than it used to be few decades ago;credit goes to the advancement of technology. Nowadays leisure time of children means online communities, Computers,television, video games and virtual playgrounds for pretend play. Sedentary lifestyle has cultivated grave health issues in kids, ruining their present and future both. The number of hours spent in front of TV may be directly related to the increase in body mass index (BMI), cholesterol levels, smoking prevalence, and loss of fitness.

Incidence of obesity has  raised to alarming rate. International Association for the Study of Obesity (IASO) and International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) estimate that 200 million school children are either overweight or obese. By 2025, India will have over 17 million obese children and stand second among 184 countries where the number of obese children are concerned, says a study published in Paediatric Obesity, an international journal.

Overweight and obesity primarily happen either due to excess calorie intake or insufficient physical activity or both. Childhood obesity is a forerunner of metabolic syndrome, poor physical health, mental disorders, respiratory problems and glucose intolerance, all of which can track into adulthood.

Exergaming

Excessive video game play can make your kid obese. Exergaming is an exciting strategy to potentially improve physical activity levels and reduce childhood obesity.

Exergaming comprises of interactive games. A player has to use body movement such as jumping, kicking, punching, and ducking to interact with characters of the game system, thus increasing exercise behaviour and energy expenditure.

Benefits of Exergaming

• Increased levels of physical activity

• Reduced consumption of low-nutrition foods

• Increased energy expenditure

• Childhood obesity risk reduction

Pic credits:weightmatters.ca