Skip the Gym and Play DDR

Research shows that an intense round of Dance Dance Revolution burns the same amount of calories as a brisk bike ride, making it a genuine workout.

Researchers may have dismissed the myth of the Nintendo Wii as a potent exercise tool, but research from a recent study shows that the trailblazer in active games, Dance Dance Revolution (DDR), really functions as an effective form of exercise. The study, commissioned by the American Council on Exercise, found that the most difficult modes of DDR are actually, as one researcher put it, “a tremendous workout.”

The study enlisted volunteers between 12 and 25 who were already familiar with the game, then subjected them to rigorous testing with the game – sometimes for up to six hours a day. After establishing a baseline of fitness for each participant, they collected data on oxygen uptake, heart rate and rate of perceived exertion.

While DDR’s light mode burned about 5.9 kcal/min, roughly equivalent to an easy walk, it’s standard and difficult modes cranked that rate up to 7.7 kcal/min and 9.4 kcal/min respectively. “When you compare it to cycling, DDR is equivalent to riding about 12 to 14 miles per hour,” said John Porcari, the study’s leading researcher. “It’s also very similar to the benefits people get with high-impact aerobics.”

The study concluded by recommending the adoption of DDR by school districts nationwide as a way to get kids exercising. “It really does serve as a viable option for physical activity for kids,” said Cedric Bryant, the Council’s chief science officer, in a statement. “DDR allows us to take advantage of, and capitalize on, children’s love for videogames and use it as a vehicle to help encourage them to be more active.”