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BOB HIRSHON (host):
Breaking a sweat with Xbox. I’m Bob Hirshon and this is Science Update.
Health guidelines recommend that young people get sixty minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise each day, but studies have shown that as few as 15% of them actually get it. Surprisingly, video games may be one solution, according to researchers at the University of Montreal. They found that about a quarter of teens played video exergames—videogames that require players to get up and kickbox, dance or perform other vigorous activities. The scientists conclude that these games may be one way to address the lack of exercise among young people.
In related news, scientists report that playing popular exergames increases heart rate and respiration as much as traditional modes of exercise do, with heartrate going up 150 to 250% in a typical session. I’m Bob Hirshon, for AAAS, the science society.
