West Virginia, one of the states with high levels of obesity, is set to expand a project by which public school students are allowed to play the popular video game, Dance Dance Revolution as a form of exercise. In DDR players are required to perform a fairly intensive cardiovascular workout, as they must rapidly move their feet to correspond to the rhythms generated from the music and game screen. Players must match their steps against the rhythm and the rapidly falling icons at the appropriate time in order to successfully complete a given stage.
The program is set to reach all of the states 157 middle schools by the end of the year, and state officials are hoping that each of the state’s 753 public schools will receive the required products within three years time. The newly initiated endeavor is not meant to replace standard physical education or health classes, but will rather be offered as an option for students naturally disinclined to traditional forms of exercise.
The state has previously tested the initiative with a small pilot program where twenty schools participating last spring. The test exercise has been largely successful to date. State officials are currently targeting students between ages 10 and 14, where many in the health and exercise field feel critical developments are made in a child’s life. Linda Carson, a professor at West Virginia University’s School of Physical Education in Morgantown has said “when children really begin making more of their own decisions and a time when they could easily choose to be more sedentary.”
The program is expected to cost each participating school roughly $740. The educational institutions are expected to receive an unidentified game console, at least two required dance pads, and the corresponding software titles. Dance Pads typically retail for close to $100 with game consoles and software selling for $150 and $50 respectively.
“If we can get children to change their behavior at a young age they hopefully will grow up to be healthy, active adults, which would have a positive effect on health care costs,” said Carl Callison with Mountain State Blue Cross.
According to the board of Public Health, West Virginia is typically amongst the top three states in terms of obesity, with nearly one third of the population currently diagnosed. Excessive weight typically leads to serious health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, and some forms of cancer. West Virginia currently ranks first amongst the United States in terms of high blood pressure, and fourth in terms of level of diabetes.
“One out of three children born in West Virginia today will have diabetes by the time they grow up,” said Nidia Henderson, health promotions manager for the public employees insurance program. “That’s a devastating statistic and not acceptable.”
The wide-spread project is expected to cost the state roughly $500,000 as the program is expected to expand from Middle Schools and into Elementary and HIgh Schools within three years time. Konami, the publisher of the popular video game, Dance Dance Revolution has pledged $75,000 to the cause. Funding is also being provided by the PEIA and Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield. State officials are also seeking funding for the remainder of the cost from private institutions. href=”http://”>Your text to link…
