Wii, Dance Dance Revolution and Guitar Hero: The New Form of Exercise for Teens

Exergames are getting teens excited about exercise. Whether it is Nintendo's Wii Fit, Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) or other technology-based interactive fitness games, teens are getting off the couch and realizing that exercise doesn't have to be boring.

Nintendo's Wii Fit is an exercise game to be used with the Wii console. It consists of a Wii Balance Board used in activities such as aerobics, yoga, jogging, strength training, hula hoop, rhythm boxing, balance games, ski jumping, table tilts, balance bubble, tightrope tension, and penguin slide. The actual Wii console comes with Wii Sports which includes tennis, bowling, baseball, boxing and golf.

Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) is a fun dancing game for teens. Players stand on a dance mat or platform, with colored arrows laid out in a cross pattern. Teens watch the screen to see which foot and direction they need to move while they perform to upbeat music. Each player receives a score based on how well they were able to follow the correct dance steps.

Teens playing Guitar Hero get off the couch as they simulate playing the guitar. The Guitar Hero screen uses colored notes which correspond to fret buttons on the plastic guitar.

Fitness games are being used in schools and gyms across the United States. Dance Dance Revolution is being used in many physical education departments. It combines physical activity, social interaction and music which appeals to teenagers.

According to Current Health2 magazine, Woodside High School in California has opened an exergame gym. The gym includes Dance Dance Revolution, Cateye GameBikes, and CYBEX Trazer.

Cateye GamesBikes have a Plug and Play video game controller which connects a stationary bike to a video screen. Students participate in car races by controlling the steering, speed and turns as they pedal on their stationary bike. Teens can either play against the computer or compete against friends.

CYBEX Trazer is a game system which utilizes a special belt worn by the player. The player interacts with the screen while wearing the belt. This allows the player free motion while interacting in a virtual world of physical activities.

According to the American Council on Exercise, Teens should be participating in at least sixty minutes of physical activity every day. Luckily the exercise level can include both low-intensity exercise such as housecleaning and vigorous exercise such as swimming.

While exergames shouldn't replace other vigorous activities such as sports or outdoor activities, exergames are at least getting teens involved in a low-intensity type of exercise. Teenagers are moving their bodies and elevating their heart rates. This is quite a chance from past video and computer games which are often blamed for being one of the main causes of obesity in teens.

Sources

Karen Kasland, "Power Play: Gamers get up and get moving" Current Health2 Magazine, Oct. 2008, Volume 35, No. 2

American Council on Exercise Recommends 60 minutes of Physical Activity a Day, www.acefitness.org