Fun and Games
Should You Hop on the
Exergaming Bandwagon?
Ronald Pucillo, M.D., Family Medicine and Weight Management Physician
If you're one of those people who struggles with sticking to an exercise regimen, you're not alone. It's important to include daily physical activity into your lifestyle. If you've never worked out regularly, or tried but relapsed back to couch potato land, try something fun and different.
"The key to working exercise into your life is finding something that you enjoy doing," says Ronald Pucillo, M.D., family medicine and weight management physician on staff at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital. People of all ages have found the answer in exergaming.
What Is Exergaming?
Exergaming is a term used to describe video games that incorporate exercise into the mix. This phenomenon began evolving in the 1980s when virtual reality games that included activities such as cycling and racquetball popped up. Fast forward to the late 1990s when the music-inspired Dance Dance Revolution had kids and adults alike playing games and exercising at the same time.
As the word got out, parents hoping to pull their kids away from traditional inactive video games turned to Dance Dance Revolution as did many schools. Why? Because they saw that kids and adults who took part in these exergames lost weight, had fun and stuck with it.
In late 2006, Nintendo launched its Wii system, which offers an array of competitive games, including bowling, tennis, boxing, golf and baseball. Wii game players use a hand-held controller that mimics a tennis racket, bowling ball, golf club, etc.
Can Exergaming Improve Fitness?
According to Dr. Pucillo, the initial virtual reality games tied to stationary cycles have long been touted for their fitness contributions. "Introducing the gaming factor just made cycling more fun and people are more likely to continue," Dr. Pucillo says.
The American Council on Exercise (ACE) compared calories burned playing Nintendo Wii games as compared to playing the actual sport. Here's how the Wii stacked up:
| Calories Burned/Minute | ||
| Wii Game | Real Game | |
| Golf | 3.1 | 3.9 |
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| Bowling | 3.9 | 7.2 |
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| Baseball | 4.5 | 7.3 |
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| Tennis | 5.3 | 8.1 |
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| Boxing | 7.2 | 10.2 |
Source: ACE FitnessMatters, July/August 2008.
A 2006 Mayo Clinic study concluded that some activity-promoting video games could equal the amount of energy that a child would expend during regular playtime, while others could be used as a supplement to daily activity. In 2008 other studies looked at the Wii gaming system and found that users clearly expended more energy than traditional sedentary games, though calories burned didn't equal participation in the actual sport.
Results aren't in yet on the new Wii Fit system that offers more traditional fitness workouts such as step aerobics, yoga and strength training — but they are expected to be positive. The bottom line is that combining exercise with gaming makes it more fun and competitive, too — which is why people tend to stick with these types of exercise programs versus other traditional formats.
Exergames should not replace regular exercise, but they do offer a great supplement to your day-to-day routine. They beat sedentary video games by a long shot.
Talk with Your Doctor
Before starting any new exercise program you should consult a physician. Any successful weight control program should include healthy eating habits along with regular exercise, and your doctor can help you find a plan that works best for you. For a referral to Dr. Pucillo or a physician in your area, call 281-274-7500 today!
