Fitness and weight goals set by the Healthy People 2010campaign have reportedly been missed and the evidence shows that America is actually moving in the wrong direction. Exergaming – exercise and or through gaming could be the solution.
The Exergame Network (TEN) has found that objectives set for Americas health, weight management and fitness are being missed and cannot be met by traditional health interventions alone, and so TEN says that technology needs to be embraced and used in today’s healthy lifestyles. TEN Supports the methodology of ‘Exergaming’ which the organisation says is the “combination of exercise and multimedia technologies,” for a role in reaching the Health People 2020 objectives.
US studies have shown 97% of children play video games daily and the average age of gamers is 34 years old.
“Exergaming is an exciting genre in the video game space,” said Jennifer Mercurio, Vice President & General Counsel of the Entertainment Consumers Association. “It can be used for physical therapy and team building, as well as fitness. Healthy People 2020 should embrace Exergaming as an important component in getting Americans more healthy.”
TEN Recognises that not every exergame is suitable for improving health, a headline study into Wii Sports by Liverpool John Moores University suggest that Wii Sports, while fun, cannot be recommended due to the low level of energy expenditure. However, the results of a 2008 study into Dance Dance Revolution and Eyetoy Kinetic exergames by SUNY Cortland University showed that some exergames can contribute to the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity.
To help guide the public, TEN evaluates exergames using its Rating System, which can be found here,to support those exergames that have genuine exercise components.
As teachers play a large part in our children’s physical activity with 65% of school children’s activity is solely derived at school, so educators can also raise children’s awareness of healthy practises by demonstratin how exercise can be fun, with Exergaming as one route to achieve these goals.
George Velarde is a PE educator with a vision to move PE from traditional practises to the “New PE” which integrates technology. His experiences are a testament to the power of Exergaming, and his results for Sierra Vista Jr. High are a testament to the effectiveness of appropriately applied health and fitness technologies.
The Sierra Vista PE Department’s efforts in “New PE”, that includes over 50 Exergaming stations, started in 2003 and has subsequently improved the schools fitness scores. In 2003 the school scored 33.4% for the 6 fitness standards. After six years the school scored 55.4% in the number of fitness standards achieved. With George’s enthusiasm, Sierra Vista is a school that embraces Exergaming and bucks the national trend by moving in the right direction for health and fitness.
It does not stop with Sierra Vista as schools and universities are finding their own path towards healthy lifestyles through practical trials and research with exergaming.
The goal of Exergaming is not to replace traditional exercise, but to replace sedentary behaviour, and as an effective method to increase participation in traditional exercise – The ‘Gateway’ Effect. The public opinion of the best gateway exergame, and other worthy categories of exergaming, are the subject of The Exergame Network Awards, which is currently open to public vote here.
The objectives for Healthy People 2020 are due to be released this month, and while technology, principally increased screen time, is having a negative effect on our health, the evidence points to a need for guidelines supporting the positive benefits of exergaming.
