Recent studies have suggested that playing video games actually helps you lose weight.
Pop your eyeballs back into their sockets! It’s true!
Here are five reasons to pick up a game controller to shed the flab:
1. Video games make you move
Gaming consoles like Wii and Xbox Kinect were designed for players to use their bodies as controllers. In order play your game, you’ll need to stretch, squat and twist. But why would anyone want to use effort to do any sort of physical activity?
Well, because it’s fun.
Playing games such as Wii Fit and EA Sports Active for Kinect tend to make you forget you are doing so much physical activity. You get caught up in the game and before you know it, hours have passed by and you’ve worked up a sweat.
2. Video games count the calories for you
On top of being crazily addictive, most exercise games come with a calorie counter.
So while you’re playing games, the game actually helps track how many calories you’re burning.
Some games like Dance Dance Revolution also allow you to customize your work out.
You can decide how many calories you want to burn or how long you want to exercise. That way, you can work towards a goal. Many fitness centers encourage calorie counting. This is because it makes people more conscious of their diet.
Since games tell how many calories you’ve burnt, you are more likely to say ‘no’ to fatty food because you wouldn’t want to undo all the work you’ve done.
3. Video games make you excited
Even if you don’t run around smashing virtual tennis balls, don’t worry.
You’re still burning calories.
Games, especially horror and action games make the body secrete adrenaline. When adrenaline is present in the blood, it boosts metabolism. This leads to the body burning more calories than usual.
So even if you’re being a couch potato, you’re burning more calories than you would if you were just watching TV.
Doing nothing and burning more calories? Sounds awesome.
4. Video games relieve stress
Here’s a simple equation: Stress makes you fat. Games relieve stress. Therefore, games help you keep a healthy weight.
Researcher Dr Alon Chen of Weizmann Institute-in Israel located a gene that pumps out the protein Ucn3 when stressed, and according to British researchers, two-thirds of people carry this gene. Ucn3 causes people to crave sugary and fatty foods. When a person is constantly stressed, it can lead to the person becoming fat and ill.
That’s why it’s important to keep those stress levels down.
Video games are a good way to fight stress. It takes the mind off troubling matters and relaxes the muscles.
So on top of fighting stress, video games can also help fight the bulge.
5. Video games keep your hands busy
New research from the University of Hong Kong suggests that even regular thumb-based gaming can help you fight the flab.
The main reason for this is because video games keep your hands occupied.
According to the research, tests showed holding a control and moving your arms to navigate characters burned 40% more calories than doing nothing.
Of course, you don’t burn a lot of calories doing nothing. However, every little step goes a long a way.
Another reason games help is by keeping your hands busy.
When your hands are busy and your mind is distracted by what’s happening onscreen, you’re less likely to stuff food in your mouth.
A Word of Caution:
Like any form of exercise, video games can also help you lose weight if you stick to it.
Playing Wii Bowling once a month will not help you very much at all.
However, keep to it and you’ll find games add a fun flavor to your exercise regime.
Cheryl Cheong
Cheryl is the Staff Writer at MatchMove Games
