14-year-old Josh Prince works out using a game called Dance Dance Revolution.

Josh Prince, 14, lost weight using Dance Dance Revolution. Prince says, "there's a lot of variation, there's a lot of step patterns, there's lots of different tones and it's really challenging."

For the past seven months, he's been doing this at least 3 times a week, for up to an hour each session: He's shed 38 pounds as a result.

"I feel amazing. I can keep up with kids my age now. I don't get tired anymore. Now, I can run upstairs and I don't need to take a break."

THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION HAVEN'T YET BEEN FORMALLY EVALUATED, BUT RESEARCH HERE AT UBC IS ALREADY SHOWING THE VALUE OF INTERACTIVE VIDEO GAME EXERCISE.

DARREN WARBURTON, UBC PROFESSOR, CARDIOVASCULAR PHYSIOLOGY AND REHAB LAB, SAYS, "OUR PARTICIPANTS SAID THEY CAN EXERCISE FOR THREE HOURS ON THIS THING AND I DON'T EVEN NOTICE IT."

In a six week period, people who exercised using video games improved their fitness levels and blood pressure over and above those using standard exercise bikes.

WARBURTON SAYS, "IT IS GOOD, YEAH, BECAUSE, NOW WE'VE GOT A NEW MEDIUM FOR EXERCISE, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO PREFER TO PLAY VIDEO GAMES."

The study has been so successful, researchers are planning to introduce dance dance revolution into the mix. To get girls, who don't play as many video games as boys, more active. 

It's not only exercise that's made a difference for Josh. He's changed his eating habits as well.

JOSH PRINCE SAYS, "I THINK THE MOST AMAZING THING I LEARNED TO KEEP MY WEIGHT OFF IS THAT I'M NOT AN EMOTIONAL EATER... INSTEAD OF GETTING FOOD, GO FOR A WALK OR GO TO YOUR ROOM OR GO EXERCISE."

Mom Elena Sigal says, "I think it's fantastic. I'm really proud of Josh and if they get interested in something and you let them follow their own interest and not get involved. It's amazing how they can move along and keep motivated."

Not only did they work harder than they thought, people who used game bikes in the study also showed up more often to exercise than those who used regular bikes. That's why researchers say we could soon be seeing more of these game bikes in community centres.  By the way, it was at an arcade where Josh first tried Dance Dance Revolution.

Wednesday April 5, 2006