Dance Dance Revolution helps kids lose weight - New Dancing Game from Japan

January 29th 2006

Dance Revolution

Parents and teachers are always looking for ways to help kids lose weight. A new game from Japan may help. Dance Dance Revolution has been around the US for a few years, but now West Virginia is embracing the game for their middle school students.

According to the Bluefield Daily Telegraph in West Virginia, since many students don’t like traditional sports like basketball, football, baseball or soccer, this new game will give the kids a choice. The schools are targeting youths between 10 to 14 years of age. This is not to replace physical education or health classes, but as an option for students who dislike the other sports.

According to the Associated Press (AP), the problem with obesity is a significant health risk and close to half (46 percent) of more than 30,000 fifth graders screened for coronary artery risk project from 1999 to 2005 were overweight or obese. This is published in the Institute of Medicine guidelines.

Melanie Purkey, who directs health promotion for the state Department of Education, told the AP “When you’re looking at health promotion, you do whatever we can to get kids to eat healthier and move more.” Since many middle school students like dancing more than dodge ball, it is the goal of West Virginia to get the game in every public school.

The games cost about $740 each. There are about 157 West Virginia middle schools and the state is hoping to get them into all of their schools next month, according to the Bluefield Daily. The paper says “the project is expected to cost $500,000, with part of the funding coming from PEIA and Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield, and game manufacturer Konami Digital Entertainment providing $75,000.”

Recently Best Syndication ran a story describing dance as a method of losing weight. Kirstie Alley was featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show. One of her techniques for losing weight was taking dance lessons. Richard Simmons has a similar story. His goal is to keep himself moving. Dance is a great way to do that.