Do You Think Your Children Are Spending Too Much Time On Video Games?

KYW Medical Reports Sponsored By Independence Blue Cross

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The fact that kids are spending too much time playing video games is well documented and for those of us in health care it is a major concern when we talk about risk factors for obesity.

But here is an idea -- if you think your kids are spending too much time on video games consider buying them active video games. This could contribute to their physical fitness.

A report is in the journal Pediatrics focused on work done at the University of Oklahoma and also done in the U.K. What they found that playing active games at a high skill level was similar to moderate intensive walking.  The authors suggested that for children who spent a lot of time playing video games, active video games could be a valuable means of promoting activity.

Of course, there have been no large, quality, or especially high quality, studies on the effects of these types of games on children's health but it only makes sense that being active can help.