Exergaming: DDR Revolution

Aired on Lifetime Television
April 13 and May 25, 2008
Show 508

The traditional view of kids sitting around playing video games conjures up an image of lethargy, weight gain and even downright laziness, doesn't it?  How times have changed!  We're in the era of "exergaming", where many of today's video games are complex, interactive machines that get kids to jump, dance, box and run. Although its roots date back to 1982 when Atari tested a game that would hook up to your exercise bike, exergaming truly started in 1998 with Dance Dance Revolution, which required participants to dance using an electronic dance floor. The excitement and intensity of these games are causing kids to burn calories, build muscle and get healthier – but they're having too much fun to notice.