The computer games console has been blamed for creating a generation of couch potato children who shun outdoor play. But research today suggests video games could become the latest weapon in the fight against childhood obesity, amid estimates that 8.5% of six-year-olds and one in six of 15-year-olds in Wales are obese. The study found children are six times more likely to take exercise if it is combined with video games. Health experts believe the experiment, carried out under laboratory conditions, represents a step forward in working towards reducing childhood obesity.

 

A new device means that hours of sedentary gaming could become a thing of the past as children - and adults - are encouraged to exercise to play a video game. The Gamercize - a type of step machine or exercise bike - plugs into the games console. To start the game, the person must either pedal or step. Play stops when the movement stops.  During the experiment, children aged between seven and 11-years-old were given the chance to choose between exercising only, playing sedentary games, or physical activity combined with video games.  While 10% of their time was spent exercising only, 60% was spent on the video games-exercise combination.

 

Colin Waine said, "This is a very interesting result - it opens up a possible way of getting children more active."