West Virginia fully adopts Dance Dance Revolution fitness program

Not even the first time we've seen it done, but you've got to give it up for Charleston, West Virginia -- a state heralded for its rampant obesity problem -- which went from study to practice in using Dance Dance Revolution to work that body. Last year 85 kids participated in a survey that used Dance Dance Revolution and diet changes to shed excess poundage, which apparently also went to the heads of the school administration of the state, since started a pilot program and are now rolling DDR out to all of West VA's 157 middle schools, in addition to another 753 public schools expecting it in the next three years. Take that California; just remember not to overdo it, ok kids? Safety first. Oh, and that sound you just heard? The owners of hundreds of West Virginian arcades crying out in agony.

[Via The Guardian]

[dragon @ Feb 21st 2006 8:11AM]

I would kill for this game in my school program. I live in PA, right next door to WV. I tried to get my school to start using this game in its PE class jsut because it is fun, I know many people that would actually participate in PE if this game were used, it is fun, and it is an extreme workout on the harder levels. My school rejected it because they thought it would cost too much (Apparently less than 1K is too much for a school that can blow its money on an entierly new stadium for the football team that costs 15K and still have tons of money left over).

I am an avid DDR player, I really havn't lost weight playing it, but I've actually gained weight because of the muscle I built playing it(only around 5-10 lbs). Who knows, I could stop playing this game and i might gain weight, but I wont stop because it is really a fun way to exercise.

I play this game on the hardest setting, and I have beaten all but 4 songs(Oni & heavy setting for 2 songs). When you see someone play; for example, Max Z Unlimited on heavy, and they step 600 times in less then 1 minute and 40 seconds, you would be impressed. It takes alot of stamina, leg strength, coordination, rhythm, and alot of times memory as well to be able to play some of these hard songs.

I remember when I was back on light mode thinking that songs were tough because they were "too fast" or "too hard" now that they are hard, I have to work even more.

Congrats to WV for putting this program in. This is a great way to get kids involved in exercising and will help. If you dont believe this game can help, search for the health benefits of this game. It will explain everything for you.

[Robert @ Apr 11th 2008 9:08PM]

My kids love playing this. I just there were more active video games.

http://www.myvemma.com/juiceup

[Denise @ Mar 22nd 2006 6:49AM]

I think it is a great idea and more schools should do the same. DDR is a great way to get in shape and it is fun too!

Denise

[Alex @ Apr 30th 2006 3:35PM]

I remember being a non-DDR player. It was the biggest joke of all time... until I tried it. I think many DDR players hate J-pop, hate the idea of 'dancing' and aren't Asian. None of that is really the point. The fact is, you are doing something that takes physical prowess, and it is still a fun and flashy videogame. That makes it one of the only ways to sell excercise to gamer types (which is most of this generation). Count me in as a former hater who has entusiastically become a DDR fan. I'm going to go play some right now! :)

[Cry Havoc @ May 1st 2006 10:13AM]

Gotta love it when people take pot-shots at a game because "it makes you look stupid".

Well gee, some of us care more about having fun and enjoying life rather than sitting around being bored in a moping attempt to "look cool". If it's so lame, what are you doing taking the time out of your day to insult it, except to drive the point home that you're just too hip for the rest of the world?

And for those of you that knock DDR as an exercise program... you obviously haven't played it. It takes co-ordination, speed, reflexes, and it's a heck of a lot of fun. Not to mention it's great cardio and an excellent way to build up leg muscles.

[BananaBean @ May 8th 2006 11:17PM]

I play ddr, and I've watched alot of people play too, and frankly the people who suck at the game and blow it off like its some kind of joke, "I get really embarrased for them because they look so gay and stupid".

And they do, they really do.

But for those who have fun in their "suckatude", its not painful to watch.

And let's just face it, it's hard to get a person to do something unless they see instant results. So "proper" diet and exercise just isn't going to cut it for some people because it takes a while depending on how intense you go about it. So what's the harm in disguising something that essentially good for you in something fun?

Conventional or not, exercise is exercise, sweat is sweat. No matter how you turn it, they remain constant and I'm pretty sure that's the point that WV trying to get across.

[Liz Tyler @ Nov 14th 2008 11:52AM]

LOL this is quite a fun game! It's interesting how they have figured out a fun, fastpaced way for kids to exercize without thinking they're doing it!

~Liz

[Gary @ Oct 12th 2007 7:54PM]

Here is some info on my part of WV
Marinsburg WV (Berkeley County)
Due to its proximity to Washington, D.C., Berkeley County is the fastest growing county in the State of West Virginia and among the fastest growing in the entire country[2]. In 2005, Berkeley County surpassed Cabell County (Huntington) becoming the second-most populous county in West Virginia.

This county is a part of the Washington-Baltimore Metropolitan Area and one of three counties in Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area

[atomb @ Jan 25th 2006 10:41AM]

this will probably result in a massive increase of dancers from that state that can follow directions really well....hmmm where to employ that trait?

maybe a special division of the armed forces?

104th West Virginian Dancing Division
"We'll slide step y'all into submission!"

[puh_fifer @ Jan 25th 2006 10:41AM]

This will be a joke to many kids who will have no interest in DDRing at school. Much like when I was in Middle school and all the buzz was tae-bo, so they had us do that. Really we just laughed at billie blanks or whoever that guy was.

[Chris @ Jan 25th 2006 11:01AM]

i don't see how its the easy way out when it is actually is excercising and not some miracle treatment

[Mitch Bollig @ Jan 25th 2006 11:08AM]

For those that would scoff, try DDR for 30 minutes straight and tell me you didn't both enjoy it as well as get a good workout. Kudos to WVa for starting somewhere on the new biggest threat to the US - obesity.

[Eggplant Glue @ Jan 25th 2006 11:27AM]

Way to go, Charleston! I'm glad they're open to new ideas and looking for ways to make exercise more interesting for the kids.

[Bill @ Jan 25th 2006 11:57AM]

If I recall correctly we had some pretty sweet ways to have exercise back in middle school. Its after that that is more problematic, what we need is more adults playing DDR....

[tekdemon @ Jan 25th 2006 11:58AM]

lol the entire state of West Virginia just got that much dorkier =)

And hey I'm not trashing it, at my university we had this DDR machine and there were always people on it and people watching the people on it...dorktastic. Inevitably there were then tournaments. And also an obscene amount of people who could play the entire game on the hardest setting...which I think is just not right.

[lostinspace @ Jan 25th 2006 12:28PM]

If you really want to work up a sweat they should try Dance Dance Immolation.

http://interpretivearson.com/ddi/

[JJ @ Jan 25th 2006 12:39PM]

This has got to be the longest sentence ever....

"Last year 85 kids participated in a survey that used Dance Dance Revolution and diet changes to shed excess poundage, which apparently also went to the heads of the school administration of the state, since started a pilot program and are now rolling DDR out to all of West VA's 157 middle schools, in addition to another 753 public schools expecting it in the next three years."

Somebody needs to retake grammar 101.

[mpeng @ Jan 25th 2006 12:49PM]

that way you can play with your sister, mom, aunt & grandma...wait, is that the same person?

[Ryan, Goes to the Gym @ Jan 25th 2006 1:06PM]

There have been many attempts in the US to get kids to start exercising. Remember the stationary bikes attached to a video game! The truth is that the US always shy away from education and spend way too much money on useless gadgets! Here in Canada we educate our young minds to understand fitness and nutrition, and the fact that McDonalds isn't our main staple helps as well!

[John @ Jan 25th 2006 1:42PM]

The funny thing is... West Virginia has been a major player in technology the past ten years..

WVWC was the first school to have online registration mandatory.

WVU/WJU have some of the best science programs including forensics...

There is a firm near Wheeling I think that creates Carbon Foam for Nasa.

this is just one thing that WV does probably better than most states... it tried to involve education around what the children like... this coming from one of the poorest states in the union...

You can quit with all the WV inbred remarks too... the fact is there is more of the F-Uped redneck in alabama & kentucky.

Plus WV has some of the best white water rapids, hiking, golf, and you can base jump off a bridge legally.

the number 5 college football team is in WV... so is the 15 or 16 basketball team..

so pretty much stay off the negative WV vibe

Can you tell i use to live there?

[Einsfahrt @ Jan 25th 2006 1:52PM]

Oh exhalted canucks! Um, you might want to read the following:

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060117/obesity_canadians_060117/20060117?hub=Health

Of course your American overlords are probably the reason for this, right?

[Bill @ Jan 25th 2006 2:09PM]

I heard about the DDR approach this morning on NPR on my way to work. I'm glad to see the state is doing something to help with the rampant obesity problem here.

I moved to WV in 1996 and it really is one of the most obese places I have ever been. While I doubt DDR will have a huge impact on the overall well being of the state - hopefully it will help a few kids in each school become more healthy and lose some weight. Some early success could help the initiative grow and could be the impetus to other programs.

Finally, WV is a pretty small state. Not necessarily in land mass - but in population. I doubt there are 20 arcades in the state.

[DIANA @ Jan 25th 2006 4:09PM]

HURRAY TO WV!I AM VERY PROUD TO HAVE BEEN BORN A WEST VIRGINIAN,SO TO THOSE OF YOU THAT BAD-MOUTH MY STATE,LOOK AT YOUR STATE AND ASK WHAT HAS IT DONE TO TRY TO HELP THE OBESITY PROBLEM WITH OUR YOUTH?!

[ax7 @ Jan 25th 2006 4:47PM]

When I see people on the ddr machine I get really embarrased for them because they look so gay and stupid.

[joe @ Jan 25th 2006 5:12PM]

Unless u were asian because if u see asian dancing to ddr...means they are good...cuz im asian too. I like to DDR and pop-lock

[jim @ Jan 25th 2006 5:30PM]

I think that taking action to remedy a problem is much more important than sitting around and brainstorming ideas for it. Albeit DDR is probably not the best of choices for weight lost, it definitely is a feasible method. Kudos to the state for it's step forward.

Now for those who are calling the game dorky or outright using derogatory terms like "gay" to describe the people playing, realize that you are not helping the problem. I commend those people who can showcase their interest and abilities on a game like DDR. You guys probably look funny doing whatever it is that you guys do anyways.

[kev @ Jan 25th 2006 8:37PM]

There will be those that look good. There will be those that look bad. It's up to you to decide where your opinion lies, while no one has to agree with you.

[Queen Pulutan @ Jan 26th 2006 4:38AM]

Hey Canada: "The truth is that the US always shy away from education and spend way too much money on useless gadgets!" You may be critical of a state-initiated program based on "gadgetry" but honestly, I think it has its merits and you have to understand that in a country where the best gimmick wins, you are not going to switch over to a more wholistic remedy to public health problems overnight. If young kids learn to have good associations with exercising (i.e. that it is fun, that it is socially acceptable, etc) then who cares by which means those associations are made? Besides, the game isn't just useful for working up a sweat, it actually increases your coordination and your sense of rhythm.

[Chris @ Jan 26th 2006 12:31PM]

Why are some of you so cyncal? It sounds like a really fun way for kids to get some much needed exercise. Having attended school in West Virgnia myself, I would have killed for something like this instead of the hellish baseball and basketball centered P.E. classes I was forced to attend. I think it's really commenable that there are more inclusive alternatives to organized sports.

[Hung @ Jan 29th 2006 4:27PM]

Personally I think it's great that something's being done about obesity in schools. The initial cost to rollout the game in WV is probably nothing compared to the health care costs that it'll counter.

I've been on a DDR exercise plan and I've already lost like, 8-9 pounds. Like any exercise plan, it works if you stick to it. On the harder levels, it is definitely a workout.

That's just my two cents.
http://www.ddr-diet.com/