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| Study uses video games to fight obesity By Allison Barker CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Like many 11-year-old boys, K.D. Jones loves sports. But at 5 feet, 175 pounds, he found his weight and the asthma it caused an obstacle to enjoying many activities. His doctor wanted him to lose 50 pounds, and he's hoping a new health study using video games to fight obesity will help him get down to 125 by the end of summer in time to play football. |
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| Jones is one of 85 children being recruited by the West Virginia Public Employees Insurance Agency to participate in an at-home study using the video game Dance Dance Revolution to increase activity. He lost about 10 pounds by changing his diet. Now after two weeks playing the game, he's lost another 10. |
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| "We are in a crisis in terms of childhood obesity not only in West Virginia but in America," said Linda Carson, a professor in WVU's School of Physical Education who is coordinating the PEIA study with Emily Murphy, a doctorate candidate at WVU's medical school. |
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| Robrietta Lambert, a physical education teacher at Franklin Elementary in Pendleton County, believes she already knows what all the studies will find. She's been using the video game in her classes since last fall. "It improves cardiovascular health as well as eye-hand coordination," Lambert said. "Kids who don't like other things bloom on this. If they don't like basketball, jumping rope or ball activities, they like this." Players stand on a 3-foot-square metal mat with an arrow on each side — pointing up, down, left and right. Arrows scroll up the television screen to the beat of more than 100 tunes chosen by the player. As an arrow moves across the screen, the player steps on the corresponding arrow on the platform. Hidden songs are uncovered as players improve their speed and scores. Sounds easy enough, but throw in combinations of multiple arrows, add the quick speed at which veterans play, and the game is as challenging as an aerobics class. Most beginners are flushed in the face after one or two songs. At Morgantown High School, one of the 20 pilot sites, curiosity about the flashing lights and upbeat music draw students inside Maxine Arbogast's health class. The game, which was first introduced as an arcade game in Japan, is attracting the sedentary and the seasoned athlete alike. |
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| "The fitness and workout aspect of DDR is hidden behind a layer of fun and entertainment," Enos said. "That is what is motivating kids who are overweight to get them up on the dance pad and move their bodies." |