HAMPSTEAD - Childhood obesity is a growing problem in the United States, and many pediatricians point to video games as one of the leading causes of this epidemic.
But the owners of Hampstead Health & Fitness have turned that notion on its head, establishing a Kids' Gym that utilizes video games to get kids to exercise more.
"I had the idea of a kids' gym over 10 years ago, but the technology wasn't there until my partner and I bought it last year," said Ted Curtin, who co-owns the Danville Road gym with Exeter physician Dr. Humberto Valdes.
The kids' gym has its own area, adjacent to the adult exercise equipment. The machines are different, incorporating the Nintendo Wii and games such as "Dance, Dance Revolution" into more traditional exercise routines like weights and treadmills.
Dr. Susan Lynch, the wife of Gov. John Lynch, toured the facility yesterday and was amazed at what she saw.
"I wish there was a facility like this where I work in Concord," she said. "I have patients all over the state, and I do have some patients that come here, and they told me how much they love it. I know that a lot of the kids that have been coming here for a while have improved their body mass index, they are more fit, they are stronger, they have more endurance, and they feel good about it."
Alex Herron, 10, of Hampstead said he comes to the gym a few times a week. Yesterday, he was playing a tennis game on the Wii, which requires actual body motion to control the characters on the screen.
"I like pretty much everything," Herron said. "I like the treadmills. I like the Wii. I like the weights. I learn how to use the weights correctly."
Valdes said the gym allows kids to learn fundamental exercise and weight training at a young age, which will help them when they go on to high school and college.
"They learn how to lift weights properly, and then they come into the kids' interactive part with the DDR and the Wii games," he said.
Valdes said his favorite part is watching the enthusiasm of the children who come into the gym daily.
"(I love) the kids' smiles running across the parking lot," he said. "Just seeing their faces. They really enjoy it. We have many kids that have actually pushed parents into joining the gym, so it works both ways."
But the owners of Hampstead Health & Fitness have turned that notion on its head, establishing a Kids' Gym that utilizes video games to get kids to exercise more.
"I had the idea of a kids' gym over 10 years ago, but the technology wasn't there until my partner and I bought it last year," said Ted Curtin, who co-owns the Danville Road gym with Exeter physician Dr. Humberto Valdes.
The kids' gym has its own area, adjacent to the adult exercise equipment. The machines are different, incorporating the Nintendo Wii and games such as "Dance, Dance Revolution" into more traditional exercise routines like weights and treadmills.
Dr. Susan Lynch, the wife of Gov. John Lynch, toured the facility yesterday and was amazed at what she saw.
"I wish there was a facility like this where I work in Concord," she said. "I have patients all over the state, and I do have some patients that come here, and they told me how much they love it. I know that a lot of the kids that have been coming here for a while have improved their body mass index, they are more fit, they are stronger, they have more endurance, and they feel good about it."
Alex Herron, 10, of Hampstead said he comes to the gym a few times a week. Yesterday, he was playing a tennis game on the Wii, which requires actual body motion to control the characters on the screen.
"I like pretty much everything," Herron said. "I like the treadmills. I like the Wii. I like the weights. I learn how to use the weights correctly."
Valdes said the gym allows kids to learn fundamental exercise and weight training at a young age, which will help them when they go on to high school and college.
"They learn how to lift weights properly, and then they come into the kids' interactive part with the DDR and the Wii games," he said.
Valdes said his favorite part is watching the enthusiasm of the children who come into the gym daily.
"(I love) the kids' smiles running across the parking lot," he said. "Just seeing their faces. They really enjoy it. We have many kids that have actually pushed parents into joining the gym, so it works both ways."
Kyle DiBurro, 10, and his brother Jake, 7, were playing a motocross game called Downhill Domination yesterday. The game controls are hooked up to an exercise bike, meaning the children pedal while they play.
"(I like coming here) because you get to have fun and exercise at the same time," Kyle said.
Lynch spoke with several of the children who were participating in activities during her visit. She said there are benefits to having a facility such as the one in Hampstead.
"First of all, if nothing else, it allows the parents to be able to come in and work out, and the kids are happy and having fun," she said. "But more importantly, the kids are getting exercise, they're moving around.
"They could be sitting on their couch playing these video games, and they might be snacking at the same time. Now they're out, they're interacting with their peers, having fun. I mean, fitness physically is very important, but psychologically, it's the reason I work out every day. It clears my head, helps me cope with the stress that I have. It's wonderful. It's a win-win."
