Fed: Doctors warn on fad stocking stuffer

AAP General News (Australia)
12-22-2006
Fed: Doctors warn on fad stocking stuffer

Doctors are warning parents to leave the interactive computer games out of the Christmas
stocking .. and buy a cricket bat instead.

The Australian Medical Association says the whizz-bang computer games .. that promise
to tackle childhood obesity .. are a fad .. and marketing gone mad.

The so-called gamercize products include step machines and stationary bikes .. that
can be hooked up to Playstations and other game consoles and force children to exercise
if they want to play.

But AMA president Dr MUKESH HAIKERWAL says they're more likely to reinforce exercise-unfriendly
behaviour .. such as sitting around in front of the television.

Dr HAIKERWAL says playing old fashioned games with a ball and bat in the backyard or
park are of far more benefit to battling obesity .. and show kids that fitness and health
can be fun.

AAP RTV jb/sb/tm/cp

KEYWORD: XMAS OBESITY (CANBERRA)

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