Video Game Exercising Does Not Replace Real Exercise
The facts are in.
The American Council on Exercise and MFit of the University of Michigan both stated at separate times that video games like Dance, Dance Revolution do not qualify as exercise.
They found that video games like these do require more activity than typical video games, but they did not "qualify as aerobic exercise."
I've been saying this from the very beginning, but I honestly think there is a decent percentage of the population who really wanted this to be considered exercise. I'm not saying it isn't fun or entertaining, and yes you are active while playing the games, but it's just not enough to get in shape or increase your fitness to any significant degree.
All this means is that you don't have to cut out your video games, but you shouldn't substitute them for your workouts!
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Posted by: jim | Feb 14, 2009 2:32:08 PM
i agree you have to do real exercises. You have be on a treadmill for 30 minutes not a video game.
Posted by: jim | Feb 14, 2009 2:32:03 PM
i agree you have to do real exercises. You have be on a treadmill for 30 minutes not a video game.
Posted by: jim | Feb 14, 2009 2:31:58 PM
i agree you have to do real exercises. You have be on a treadmill for 30 minutes not a video game.
Posted by: jim | Feb 14, 2009 2:31:48 PM
i agree you have to do real exercises. You have be on a treadmill for 30 minutes not a video game.
Posted by: Scott | Dec 31, 2008 6:29:19 PM
I have been playing DDR since 2002. Since then, this game (and almost nothing else) has helped me drop off about 50 lbs. Granted, I play at the hardest difficulty and I generally play 9+ step songs for about 1.5 hours straight. This is where the true exercise lays.
I agree that if a person only stays on light or standard mode that the exercise would be minimal at best. But go check the pulse of someone like me, after an hour of intense playing, and tell me it's not doing much for me (especially while I stand in my sweat drenched shirt). Do not let ANYONE tell you this isn't exercise. If you move up to Heavy mode and play the harder songs, you can burn some serious calories.
Posted by: Shane | Oct 24, 2008 2:07:51 AM
http://www.pretadanser.com/ for better aerobic instructor..
Posted by: Shane | Oct 24, 2008 2:07:21 AM
http://www.pretadanser.com/ for better aerobic instructor..
Posted by: Shane | Oct 24, 2008 2:06:24 AM
i will always tell to get a perfect
aerobics fitness trainer for getting the better result..try to visit www.pretadanser.com..
Posted by: Abigail | Aug 14, 2008 5:13:15 PM
Whether or not DDR counts as aerobic exercise depends entirely on your skill level with the game and what you're trying to do with it. A beginner is probably not going to get a good consistent workout while learning the steps, but that doesn't mean that it isn't a workout once you've gotten good enough to play endless mode on standard for an hour! Maybe playing just for fun shouldn't be considered "exercise," but it's a valid workout tool when used as such.
And considering this -
http://www.acefitness.org/media/media_display.aspx?itemid=279
it seems at least part of your information is wrong.
Posted by: Ellen | Aug 11, 2008 10:19:22 PM
It is too hot here in the summer to walk so I bought a Wii and it is just great. I bowl and play tennis and, believe me, I get a workout. It is a great deal of fun as well.
Posted by: TroyR | Aug 11, 2008 12:11:19 PM
Just recently picked up a used PS2 for the kids it came with an older DDR... much to my surprise they aren't the ones who played it... I was.
I set up my own memory card, turned on workout mode, and wiped myself out playing it. Working as a computer programmer full time my active lifestyle took a huge hit and combined with being a full time husband and dad, with 4 kids, as well as hitting 40, I found myself well over my "optimal" weight. Watching calorie burns my minimal for a session has been in the mid 300's. The thing about it is that it is challenging and keeps you going. Looking at the history mode of the calories burnt I actually had a weekend session that was almost 3 hours during which the estimated burn was 1300 calories! Granted I took a few breaks in there to grab water, hit the can, and catch my breath!
I just picked up a newer version of the game that came with a pad so now I'm starting an actual regime with it. It's crazy to NOT consider it aerobic exercise based on my experience with it! Nonstop mode is virtually continuous with less than a 15 second break between songs/dance sets and if you're playing at standard or higher it is a very intense workout without any pause. If you're good at it you can even add in the second pad and play across two pads at the same time. Then you're even moving more than with a single pad.
Posted by: TiffanyG | Aug 11, 2008 11:48:03 AM
Has anyone looked into the Wii Fit program? It looks like it would be a great way to get kids involved in exercise.
Posted by: MaryB | Jul 28, 2008 3:36:13 PM
I love my DDR for aerobic exercise (although it is not my only form of aerobic exercise). I do it about once or twice a week for 60 - 90 minutes and I totally consider it part of my weekly 10 - 12 hours of exercising, which also includes step-aerobics, jogging, zumba, yoga, weightlifting, and tennis. The American Council on Exercise and the University of Michigan should come study me on the DDR. I am in relatively good shape, and when I'm playing DDR, I play at a heart pounding, sweat-dripping, need-to-shower-afterward rate. When I log it in my calorie journal, I log it at a conservative guess of 330 / hour. Just FYI for anyone who hasn't tried it, you can really get your heart pounding and work up a sweat if you play the faster songs at the advanced levels. Of course, I could see how it would be dangerous to say that it can replace regular exercise, because how much you move really depends on the game level and the beats-per-minute of the song you choose.
Posted by: caia | Jul 28, 2008 3:00:00 PM
Aerobic exercise is defined as exercise that raises your heart rate to a certain level, correct? Then wouldn't whether it "qualifies as aerobic exercise" depend on who you were? After all, the worse aerobic shape you're in, the less it will take to raise your heart rate.
I'd believe them if they said games like DDR weren't as strenuous as other forms of aerobic exercise, or didn't move the heart rate into an aerobic zone for otherwise active individuals. But for totally sedentary people, which sadly includes many children, I'd bet DDR does raise their heart rates, at least initially.
"You shouldn't substitute them for your workouts" is great advice for people who have workouts, but may be counter-productive when it comes to people who are trying to get themselves or their kids to move, at least a little. Many of them aren't going to be going to the gym or walking briskly for an hour if they don't play DDR -- they'll be playing something that exercises mainly their thumbs. Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good, hey?
