Recent research shows active video games (like those on the Wii) don’t create couch potatoes as their predecessors did, reports the New York Times. Instead, these games force players to dance, jump and yes, even sweat. Some studies claim that while these “active” video games are clearly an improvement, excessive video game playing by kids is still cause for concern. Exposure to violent video game content is linked to aggression and antisocial behavior, and game playing has been shown to have a small, yet still measurable impact on time spent reading and doing homework for certain children. But then again, so is excessive anything. Ever see what happens to a kid that eats too many baby carrots?

While not a substitute for sports and outdoor play, other research shows that the games can significantly increase a child’s level of activity while playing indoors. One New Zealand group studied game use by 21 children, and found active video games produced about as much activity as walking, skipping and jogging, according to a report in the August Pediatric Exercise Science. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, some of the new active video games burn more calories than walking on a treadmill. In that study, researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. measured how many calories kids burned in 15 minutes of watching television, walking on a treadmill, playing a traditional seated video game or playing two active games (Dance Dance Revolution and Movin’ Jellyfish). Movin’ Jellyfish burned about as many calories as walking on the treadmill, while Dance Dance Revolution players burned even more. The Mayo Clinic group is currently conducting a similar study on the Nintendo Wii.

- Michele White