Nintendo-ectomy

A study by the Department of Health and Human Services shows that only 3 in 10 adults get the recommended amount of physical activity, and a mere 25 percent of high school students exercise for 30 minutes 5 days a week (DHHS Physical Activity Facts). Unfortunately, this sedentary lifestyle has grown into a widespread epidemic in America. Infrequent exercise can lead to obesity, cancer, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes. The causes of this couch potato disease take root in the envied lifestyles of the wealthy who lived centuries ago, but even they enjoyed riding horses and playing croquet. The progression of the American culture centered on minimum effort truly sped up with the introduction of easily accessible electronics.

Today, the evil creature that spellbinds adolescents comes in the form of a plump plumber garbed in red overalls. Mario, now a household name, has gained unrivaled fame through Nintendo games. Other video game programs, including Xbox and Playstation, also capture the hearts of America’s future generations and wind up at the top of Christmas letters to Santa every year. This obsession with video games holds kids before electronic screens, controllers chained to their hands, preparing them for the joys of carpal tunnel that they will face in the future. Whereas the coolest kid in school used to be the star basketball player, lately the crown goes to the person with the most up-to-date video game. Research reports that “fewer than half of U.S. school children participate in daily physical exercise and they spend a lot of time playing video games,” (Oon 21). Children who play too many video games also develop bad posture and eye strain, just two more pleasant conditions to add to the effects of sedentary lifestyles list, right beneath diabetes 2 and obesity. Yet other technological advances introduced decades ago, besides electronic games, have changed the American philosophy as well.

Less physical activity has symbolized luxury and wealth for centuries, so the blame for the sedentary epidemic cannot fall solely on technology, however with television, internet, iPods, and other inventions beyond the imagination of any average 19th century American, the switch to an inactive lifestyle should not surprise anyone. Television teaches the general population to sit for hours at a time receiving entertainment in exchange for very little effort. TV shows from “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” to “1 vs. 100” only further promote get-rich-quick schemes, schemes to win a lot by doing as little as possible. Instead of walking to the store, a person would rather drive. Instead of playing some soccer, friends would rather watch a movie. In fact, to watch a movie they only have to order from Netflix or download it to their iPod, God forbid they move an inch from their couch to drive or, the unimaginable, bike to Blockbuster. Electronics and years of dreaming of robots to do housework, a la Rosie from “The Jetsons,” contribute to the current reluctance to lift one more finger than necessary, but video games and media coverage of the growing issue may actually help change the American lifestyle back to include more physical activity.

Since America has no plans for technological regression, people who wish to stay active should find a way to incorporate new inventions into exercise. Recently, Nintendo fever struck the nation with the introduction of the Nintendo Wii, a motion sensor game console that forces the player to stand up and move during game play. Other physically interactive video games, such as Eye Toy and Dance Dance Revolution for Playstation, include workout programs. In fact, accessible technology makes home gym equipment possible, so busy Americans can run on the treadmill in the comfort of their own house. A more effective solution, however, can start with children before they make sitting in front of a flickering screen a habit.

In order to change the future generations of America, health professionals and the media need to inform parents of the health risks associated with inactivity. Leading a sedentary lifestyle “is more dangerous for your health than smoking,” (Adams). If America will enforce programs like Drug Abuse Resistance Education and Red Ribbon Week to combat tobacco use, the nation should also make an effort to educate against physical inactivity. Lately, the news contributes obesity to fast food but does not place as much emphasis on physical inactivity. Parents should encourage their children to play outside just as much as they encourage their kids to watch “Barney.” Professional recommendations for daily exercise could motivate parents and children to adopt an exercise schedule. Doctors have plenty of opportunities to educate their patients, and studies show that patients who receive common advice from their doctors are more likely to follow that advice (Morantz, Torrey). Professional trainers also contribute to magazine articles that encourage a work-out routine for teenagers and women. The current state of national laziness may take time to fix, but it can definitely change.

Sweat-free technology and a laid back American dream have a significant amount of power over people’s daily sedentary schedule. Regrettably, doctors cannot remove obsessive television watching and video gaming through Nintendo-ectomy or laziness symptom relief pills. With time, however, physicians and electronics can work hand in hand to promote more health-aware societies. Active video games, news coverage, magazine articles, and doctors’ advice could drastically reduce the number of couch potato homes in America.

Works Cited

Adams, Mike. “Sedentary Lifestyle Causes More Deaths Than Smoking, Says Study.” News Target. 28 Jul. 2004. 16 Jan. 2007 Carrie, and Brian Torrey. “Obesity and Sedentary Lifestyle Guidelines.” American Family Physician. 15 May 2004. 16 Jan. 2007 Sheng-Fei. “‘Nintendo-isation’: Sedentary Lifestyles, Obesity and Increasing Health Problems Including Type 2 Diabetes in Modern Day Children and Adolescents.” Trinity Student Medical Journal. Vol. 5. April 2004. 16 Jan. 2007 . .

“Physical Activity Facts.” The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. 30 Mar. 2006. Department of Health and Human Services. 16 Jan. 2007 . .