| Step inside the living room of the Nitzberg family and | | | | not talking about morbidly obese, we're talking about |
| you'll notice that it looks more like a workout session | | | | overweight, which is very very significant. It is |
| than family t.v. time. "You are just jumping all over, and | | | | encouraging them to be more physically active, that |
| your arms are flying widely" says 12 year old Maya | | | | can't hurt but, on the other hand my concern is it may |
| Nitzberg. "I like boxing a lot because you are going | | | | be getting them more and more addicted to video |
| backwards and you're punching a lot, and blocking," | | | | games," explains weight loss specialist, Dr. Ibrahim |
| says 10 year old Sam Nitzberg. | | | | Ibrahim of Englewood Hospital. |
| Major toy and technology companies continue to | | | | Dr. Ibrahim says parental supervision plays a critical |
| invent interactive video games that are promising to | | | | role. And, when it comes to using these interactive |
| turn your kid from couch potato to active moving, | | | | games as fitness tools, whether or not kids will really |
| jumping, swinging, game player. | | | | benefit and get into shape has yet to be determined. |
| "We are up off the couch, no longer are we sitting | | | | "The concept is good and accurate and correct, |
| around just pressing buttons, people are playing Wii | | | | whether it is going to work out that way I am not sure, |
| boxing and actually losing weight, kids are no longer | | | | I don't think we have enough studies or track records |
| wasting away, sitting around button pressing, they are | | | | to say this is what is going to happen," says Dr. Ibrahim. |
| playing tennis, they are actually bowling, they are | | | | Other "exergames" as they're often referred to, |
| playing baseball," says Amber McCollom of Nintendo | | | | include stationary video game bikes, snowboards and |
| of America. | | | | virtual soccer; they're even popping up in physical |
| But, while these new interactive games continue to fly | | | | education classes and other private gyms for kids |
| off the shelves, medical experts caution parents. | | | | across the country. |
| "Thirty percent of our kids are overweight, and we're | | | | |