CNN reports that interactive video games could help some children lose weight. Considering the average child watches 4 hours of television each day, active video games are a good alternative to sitting on the couch. Some studies show that kids are 3 to 4 times more likely to lose weight using these video games vs. nothing. Until playing the Nintendo Wii I've never had any interest in video games. The active games are much more fun and they defiantly get your heart pumping. They're perfect for boring rainy days but I don't think they could ever build a system that would take the place of fresh air and sunshine.

A study by the British Medical Journal looked at how they interactive activities matched up to the real thing:

Interactive Boxing: 175 Calories

Real Boxing: 384 Calories

Interactive Bowling: 168

Real Bowling: 192

The results show that some interactive video games may be closer to the real thing than others. Although these video games are great additions to the world of fitness, they haven't yet replaced the real thing and I don't see them doing so any time soon.

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