At first it may sound quite preposterous: A video game as a solution to childhood obesity? Over the last 20 years we've thought of video games as a part of the problem. We think of them as one of the causes for inactivity in children rather than as a solution to childhood obesity.

But video games are changing. More and more video games involve actual physical activity rather than just sitting down and pushing buttons with your thumbs. There's no better example of that then the Wii Fit game.

It's the Wii Fit game in particular that I think could play a part in helping to solve the "childhood obesity epidemic" that is hitting America (and other countries) so hard. If you get your child a video game system it should be a Wii and the only game you should let them have for it is Wii Fit. You shouldn't give them an option to play a "sit on your butt game." You should say: "Sure you can play video games, but if you are playing video games it should be one where you actually move your body!" I really don't think you'll get too much in the way of complaints because Wii Fit is very fun to play (whether you are a child or an adult.)

Certainly this is probably not a solution all by itself. We must also be very concerned about the awful foods that so many children (and adults) are eating. But, that being said, any extra physical activity that we can get into children's lives is a good thing and will help them to lose weight.