You might associate video games with being sedentary, but in the past several years, there's been an explosion of games that require you to get off the couch and move. One of the granddaddies of this trend is Dance Dance Revolution, or DDR, which challenges you to match your foot movements to popular tunes. These games are research-tested to provide an entertaining source of exercise that can help you reach your weight loss goals.
Identification
DDR popped onto the gaming scene during the late 1990s, first as an arcade mainstay and later playable on several home gaming consoles. The game has spawned numerous varieties, but the basic premise remains the same. While standing on a platform or mat marked with arrows, players move their feet to step on the corresponding arrows as they scroll across the screen in rhythm with the music. Your score depends on your accuracy in hitting those arrows. The games have varying difficulty settings for the speed and frequency of the arrows.
Effects
Playing DDR burns just as many calories as climbing onto the popular machines at your gym, according to a 2007 study conducted by Dr. John P. Porcari et al. Even the least strenuous mode burns just under 6 calories a minute, about the same caloric burn as a leisurely stroll, according to the study, which was funded and published by the American Council on Exercise. For adults, the standard mode burns 7.7 calories a minute, and when you bump it up to the difficult setting, you'll burn about 9.4 calories per minute--the equivalent of high-impact aerobics or cycling 12 to 14 mph. DDR games often estimate calories burned as you play. As a bonus, you're also giving your brain and coordination skills a workout as you try to keep up with the arrows on the screen.
Expert Insight
In 2008, West Virginia University conducted a study to determine Dance Dance Revolution's effects on weight loss. The study followed 35 overweight children as they played DDR for about six months, gradually playing for longer periods of time as the study progressed. Even without altering their diet, playing the game slowed weight gain in participants from more than 5 lbs. a week to about 2 lbs. a week. The study also found the activity boosted the children's arterial health and self-esteem.
Considerations
While DDR provides a good exercise foundation, you also need to eat a healthy diet if you want to lose weight. Generally, you need to create a deficit of 3,500 calories a week--about 500 calories a day--to lose a pound of fat in a week, according to The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. Playing DDR on the expert level for an hour burns more than that; however, avoid indulging in high-calorie treats that will offset your efforts.
Potential
As an endorsement of Dance Dance Revolution's benefits, physical education teachers increasingly are incorporating the game into their curriculum. About 2,000 schools in more than 30 states have added "exergaming fitness centers with motion sensors and touch-sensitive floor mats to allow kids to control the action onscreen," according to a 2007 article by "The New York Times." Educators aren't the only ones taking advantage of Dance Dance Revolution. This interactive game also may work well as therapy for stroke victims, according to MayoClinic.com.
References
- "The New York Times": P.E. Classes Turn to Video Game That Works Legs
- American Council on Exercise: Human Joysticks
- "Times West Virginian": Bopping to Dance Dance Revolution
- West Virginia University: The Effect of Aerobic Exercise on Endothelial Dysfunction in Overweight Children
- Illinois Dietetic Association: I Eat Right and Exercise--Why Can't I Lose Weight?
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