GAME ON! INTERACTIVE ARCADE IN THE NEWS!

WKRC-TV  March 13, 2008

It's pretty nice today, but many people may feel the affects of a long-gray winter. Local doctors say complaints of "sad" or seasonal affective disorder are going around in the Tri-State. So, Local 12 Medical Reporter Liz Bonis shows us what might be a "quick-fix" in today's Medical Edge. It's estimated one out of every three of us that get moving get a serious mood lift. So, to ease the winter blah's, many are heading into a new exercise arcade at Fitworks in West Chester. It's called Game On.

Randy Stanifer, Fitworks: "Game On, is an interactive arcade, which means you exercise to the video games." It's exercise with serious appeal to both the young at heart and the very young...no exercise boredom here. Payton, who's six years old has dance, dance revolution to keep him off the couch and beat the winter time blues.

"You are supposed to hit the note...."  If dancing isn't your thing you can also try everything from Cat-eye Game Bikes to Mocado. It's obvious you've got no choice here but to build core strength and reaction time!

Trisha Kayser, Game on Operations: "it's a mind and body game, like Simon, as kids when you knock out the lights as quickly as you can." "Now the whole idea behind this is that you can come in at any age and any skill level and learn to do this for a different type of workout."

With the right initial instruction, that means anyone can exercise to video games.  "I got a marvelous....well, almost anyone okay."

If you think it's not a serious workout, think again. These game bikes....  "You have to pedal to get a high score, to do some fun tricks you actually have to keep the pedals going." I'll tell you, nobody leaves Game On in a bad mood. A day pass to video exercise at Fitworks costs about ten bucks.  For more information, you can call 513-779-2100. xxxxx

Enquirer  March 11, 2008
Feature Story: All in the Fit Family "Get up and move together for fun and health of it"

Countless studies have shown obesity runs in families. But do families who run together stay fit together? "Active parents beget active children, whether through direct involvement or facilitation," says Michael Benedict, an assistant professor at the University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center and a pediatrician and internist with UC Physicians.

"There's been a fair amount of research showing a very strong link between overweight children and family habits. If physical activiety is valued in the family, children are going to pick up on that."

In light of the high rate of childhood obesity, a hot finess trend is to get moving with your child. "There's sometimes a misconception of what activity is. Having fun and working up a litttle sweat an hour a day" is all it takes, Benedict says.

It's never too early to get started on the right foot, experts say.

A parent-child dance party isn't likely to entice adolescents away from the TV, but an interactive video game might. That was the thought behind the GameOn! Interactive Arcade at the West Chester Fitworks. The arcade, which opened in January, disguises fitness equipment through games. There are stationary bikes linked to racing games and an i-Joy skateboard that wiggles and jiggles and tones leg muscles that are rarely used. Parents often go head-to-head with their kids, scaling the Tread Wall or competing on the Sport Wall, which offers a series of games, including a Simon says-style match involving 2-pound weighted balls. While this virtual equipment is mostly fun and games, it delivers serious results.

In a study commissioned by the American Council on exercise, 12 to 25 year olds playing three levels of Dance Dance Revolution--a game of fancy footwork played at home or in arcades like GameOn!--achieved physical benefits that equaled other aerobic activities.

Regardless of the activity, Benedict stresses family fitness should focus on fun. "Being active isn't necessariy about excelling at sports," Benedict says. "It's anything that gets kids moving and gets their heart rates up." xxxx

         GAME ON! IN THE NEWS.