You may recall a unique plan by officials in West Virginia to beat the epidemic of childhood obesity in their state: Using video games to keep kids moving. Seems at least one of the major players in the video game business has taken the hint ...

Out of all of the new video game consoles out there -- Xbox 360 (Microsoft), Playstation 3 (Sony) and Wii (Nintendo) -- the Wii has been the overwhelming favorite by nearly every measure, including sales. Nearly all the reviews I"ve read extol the virtues of the Wii. This is a good thing, due to the Wii"s unique controller that actually gets players MOVING.

One of the primary problems with video games is that they are so sedentary, a major factor contributing to the obesity epidemic in children. Regular video games and TV keep your children motionless on a couch, burning no calories and getting no exercise. TV also exposes your children to endless commercials for worthless, sugary junk foods.

However, the right games on a Wii can be used to jump-start an exercise plan for your children or you. That is the good news, especially since overweight and obese children need at least 30 minutes of exercise a day, and major studies have shown that 60 minutes a day is actually best.

The bad news is that, because of the demand, the Wii is still not at all easy to get. About the only reliable way to purchase the console is on eBay, but it is going for $100 more than the current retail price ($249).

I absolutely don"t have any free time in my life to play these games, but I am committed to working less than 16-hour days, seven days a week; when I free up some time I do plan on trying the Wii out as it really seems like fun.

On Vital Votes, reader Isaul from New York City writes:

"There"s a gamer who posted how he lost 20 lbs just by playing Wii Sports for a month. I don"t have the link. The Wii is pretty innovative with the new controller, but I wish it had more memory for prettier graphics.

"Nevertheless, from a health perspective, one should limit the amount of time they spend playing games, especially if they are violent. The good news however is that the Wii has more games that are non-violent, so it is appropriate for kids and adults."

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