Burn Calories playing video games

[6souls]

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/image...39_game203.jpg
Players use body movements to control the action

Playing new style computer games can help people burn up a significant number of calories, research has found.

Games consoles such as Nintendo Wii require players to use body movements to control the action.

A study by Liverpool John Moores University found regular use could help shift 27lb (12.25kg) a year.

The study was carried out to establish whether computer games can contribute to the daily activity recommendations for children.

The researchers compared activity levels during gaming using the Wii with those achieved using traditional seated joypad-controlled consoles.

They found more active forms of gaming increased energy expenditure to a level which could help lose weight.

Heart rate

Lead researcher Professor Tim Cable said: "Through our testing it is clear that the motion sensor-controlled console can make an impact on a child's heart rate, energy expenditure and the amount of calories burned.

"Research from GameVision's Consumer Intelligence Report shows that, on average, gamers in the UK currently spend around 12.2 hours a week playing computer games.

"Therefore, it is important to promote as much activity as possible during this time."

Professor Cable said active consoles such as the Wii could provide a means of motivating children who are less active.

But he added: "Parents should encourage other physical activities and outdoor pursuits in order for their children to lead well-balanced lives."

The study measured the impact on five girls and seven boys, aged between 13 and 15, of playing both an active and inactive console.

During 15 minutes of play using a traditional joypad operated console, energy expenditure increased above resting values by an average 60%.

In comparison, when using the Wii console, the participants' energy expenditure increased 156% above resting.

Based on the average gaming week of 12.2 hours, this translates to a potential 1,830 calories burned per week when using Wii - 40% more than when using a traditional format console.

In both conditions the energy expenditure of boys was greater than that observed for girls.

Heart rates were also much greater when using the active console, reaching values of 130 beats per minute, compared with 85 beats per minute for the traditional console.

Dr Ian Campbell, medical director of the charity Weight Concern, said children should be encouraged to play outside, and that parents should limit the amount of time they played computer games.

However, he said: "Children do play these computer games because they find them fascinating, and so it would be best if the games they play include an element of physical activity."

BBC NEWS | Health | Computer games 'burn up calories'

[Sol-Blackguy]

A good read, but too bad nobody has a Wii lol...

[Lordwafik]

more like too bad games with extensive amounts of Wiimote movement are games you try to avoid.

[Metah]

I burn calories jacking it with one hand and sorta playing with the other

[Plow]

I don't remember the exact numbers, and it was right after Christmas/Thanksgiving etc and I was pretty out of shape at the time, but I lost about 15 pounds in about a month and a half when I started playing Guitar Hero on expert lol.

[liquinas]

Wot? I mostly sit back and only move my wrist for the few wii games that actually require it, and I never "chose" motion controls if given a choice.

Konami got it somewhat right with DDR and their exercise mode except you can't really play on hard, much less extreme without completely destroying any pad you could buy for home use (or it wouldn't stay put, slip away, etc).

I did lose about 100 pounds playing it over a couple of months when I had absolutely nothing to do but play DDR all day. Hyperventilation can be a problem but fitness wise I don't see any home video game being anywhere near effective unless it involves some heavy equipment or more advanced motion sensor tech (like the MOCAP balls they use to make movies).

This whole thing the media is trying to make up is completely ridiculous, waving my wrist around to aim at shoot a bow and arrow isn't going to help me burn any part of the big ass burrito I will munch on right after...

P.S. Wii makes HDTVs cry. Report on that sometime, will ya.

[Darus Grey]

I did lose about 100 pounds playing it over a couple of months when I had absolutely nothing to do but play DDR all day. Hyperventilation can be a problem but fitness wise I don't see any home video game being anywhere near effective unless it involves some heavy equipment or more advanced motion sensor tech (like the MOCAP balls they use to make movies).

This whole thing the media is trying to make up is completely ridiculous, waving my wrist around to aim at shoot a bow and arrow isn't going to help me burn any part of the big ass burrito I will munch on right after...

? Movement is movement, activity is activity. You can burn 800cal/hour just jogging in place and you're surprised doing something like wii bowling/tennis you can burn 1/2 - 2/3 of that? Plus the fatter you already are the more calories you burn for doing any activity.

People severely over-estimate how much activity it takes to actually start burning significant calories. Americans hardly do ANY physical activity in a given day. And whether you "eat a big ass burrito" or not is irrelevant if you normally ate that burrito anyways, you're still ahead by 500+ calories for that particular day.