(Kinect Sports Boxing)

Exercise is probably the least fun thing people can think of when they are trying to lose weight. People know it's a way to help lose weight, but no one really likes to do it or they simply just don't have the time to exercise. And that's just for adults; imagine the difficulty of trying to get children to exercise, now that is a challenge. That is why the video game industry game came up with devices like the PlayStation Move, Microsoft Kinect, and the Wii as a way for chuldren and adults to exercise with the equpiment they already own. Research is now suggesting that playing games that involve a lot of movement affects heart rates and energy expenditure.

Heart rates that were measured after playing the game "Dance Dance Revolution" can reach up to a 64% of maximum heart rate when played on the Xbox 360 and the Wii. This maximum heart rate is in the suggested range by the American College of Sports Medicine for adults, but the rate that is necessary for younger children is up to 80%. Other games like "Kinect Sports Boxing" provides energy expenditure that is equivalent to playing a game of volleyball or walking at 7km/h. When comparing the same games on different systems, games played on the Kinect provided a greater energetic expenditure than the same game being played on the Wii. This suggests that the whole body movement required by the Kinect results in greater activity.

If children were to dedicate half their time playing these types of games, it would lead to approximately the daily-recommended 60 minutes of activity. With these types of games, it can lead to a health boom that has never been seen before.

Source: theconversation.edu.au/a-big-kid-did-it-and-faded-away-videogames-vs-childhood-obesity-8133