The prevalence of excessive body weight in the population is increasing at the rate of approximately 1.8% per year according to the Surgeon General of the United States. This increase began in the early 1980s and continues unabated in spite of over 100 diet and exercise books published during that period of time. Low fat/high carbohydrate diets, reduced omega-3 essential fatty acids, increased trans-fatty acids, mega-portions of food, multitudes of prescription medications, along with a marked reduction in physical activity all impacted negatively on cell membranes genetically predisposed to insulin resistance. Now we have over 67% of our population who are overweight or obese. Although prevention is the ultimate goal, we are faced with a growing number of children with obesity, asthma, diabetes, and coronary artery disease, all related to insulin resistance. It is our stated purpose to develop means to reverse this trend in our patient population in order to prevent the emergence of a new generation of overweight or obese adults. Over the past twenty years the emergence of PCs (IBM 1980), Windows (Microsoft 1983), the Internet (1980s), and videogames (Sony, Microsoft, et al) contributed significantly to an increasingly sedentary lifestyle particularly amongst children. Although we now know the negative impact of a sedentary lifestyle on those who have inherited the gene for insulin resistance, no substantive methods have been developed to pry children and adults from the magnetic attraction of sedentary behaviors. And, most people, including the majority of physicians, have little or no knowledge of insulin resistance and its interrelationship with other lifestyle factors or the multitude of prescribed medications that are used to treat hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and the many others diseases and/or disorders directly or indirectly related to insulin resistance. RedOctane and Sony have developed a system that combines the newest technology which simultaneously incorporates visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning modalities and the players have created a means of positive reinforcement that virtually forces continued utilization. DDR is an incredible phenomenon that increases physical activity and caloric utilization while simultaneously enhances knowledge. Although it is relatively new, hundreds and thousands of children and young adults are playing this game and reaping the benefits of it without knowing why. The ErgoGenic Game Research Center will develop a series of games and research related to this phenomena. New games will include, but not be limited to, games with story lines for different levels of education, games that will provide education on different topics and at different levels, games that require arm, leg, and foot movement, and games that require arm and hand movement only.
©2005 ErGoGenic Games Research Group