By Pyc Fitness
©2004-2008
A steady stream of visitors passes through the new wellness room at Perry Middle School, and if students had their way, they'd spend the rest of their gym time here.
The big draw: stationary exercise bikes linked to PlayStation consoles; Nintendo Wii game stations connected to wide-screen television sets; and Dance Dance Revolution mats hooked up to a flat-screen TV.
The fitness haven also is lined with treadmills, elliptical machines and exercise bikes. In one corner, a video workout area is set up with Bosu balls.
"It's fun," said eighth-grader Brian Hanks, who puffed through a Wii boxing match during gym class.
"I never knew you could play Wii and still get a workout from it."
Schools typically have weight rooms stocked with dumbbells, barbells and muscle-boosting equipment. Some have treadmills and elliptical machines. But the Worthington middle school has latched onto the latest weapon in combating childhood obesity.
Traditional video games have been blamed for expanding waistlines among young people, but experts and educators say "exergaming" with interactive games and motion-sensitive video systems is getting kids off the couch and getting their heart rates pumping.
Kid gyms nationwide, including Zones 4 Youth in Dublin, offer stations that include exercise bikes linked to PlayStation consoles.
Dance Dance Revolution, a kind of karaoke for your feet in which players stomp on electronic mats, has been a popular sell for schools that weave the game into their fitness programs.
West Virginia, for example, says it will install the game in all of its public schools by next year. Researchers at West Virginia University's School of Medicine found that overweight students who played the game regularly lowered their blood pressure and improved their overall fitness scores.
Fitness groups such as the International Sports Sciences Association have applauded the Wii for its health benefits.
A study conducted by researchers at Liverpool John Moores University in England found that regular use of the console could burn as many as 1,830 calories a week -- the equivalent of almost four Big Macs.
Cecilia Burford, executive director of the Ohio Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, said the equipment should not be a substitute for the traditional physical education curriculum. Perry teachers said exergaming complements their gym program and does not replace physical activities.
"We still have to go outside and enjoy the fresh air," said dean of students Paul Roman, who has taught physical education for a dozen years.
Still, he relishes the benefits: Students are excited about gym class, and those who don't volunteer or participate in sports are more comfortable doing so.
"I wanted to create an environment where kids can work out, increase their heart rate and enjoy doing it," said Jill Wiebell, who has taught physical education at Perry for nearly 20 years.
Wiebell conceived the idea for the wellness room three years ago. Money for the equipment and room renovations came from grant money from the Worthington Education Association, donations from local businesses and contest money from a physical education magazine.
The room, which cost $16,000 to create and fill with equipment, opened this school year. Students say it's become a link to a more active lifestyle.
"It's changed how I think," said eighth-grader Chelsea Staley. "I don't want to be lazy. ¡ I kind of like to run more than I thought."