Obesity Wake-Up Call: Getting Kids to Exercise

WDEF News 12's Nordia Epps explains as we continue our special report on Obesity Wake Up Call.

Whether they're swinging...

Justice, "I think they're just cool I mean they're awesome."

or serving.

Hannah " They're all so much fun."

There's no doubt these girls are having a ball.

Jessie, "It feels like you're really batting or you're holding the ball to bowl."

New video games like the WII are a big hit with parents and kids alike.

Because whether it's dancing for the older ones

or a high-tech game of candy land for the younger ones our children are having a blast while moving their bodies.

Cassandra Kemp, "It's more fun than exercise

Nordia, " Doesn't even feel like exercise."

Cassandra, "Doesn't even feel like it."

Katherine Kemp, Parent, "Anyway you can get exercise without using the E word, I think it's good very good because most people don't like that word and this is easy this is fun. It's fun and you don't even realize."

Personal Trainer Anna Mercer agrees the key to keeping kids fit is to make it fun and the high-tech toys fit the bill.

Anna Mercer, Personal Trainer, "You're getting your heart rate up. Your heart rate is elevated and over a period of time your body starts to perspire and then you start burning calories anything is better than sitting in a chair and pressing buttons."

But she warns while it's a good start these games shouldn't be the only exercise kids get.

Anna Mercer, "A little bit of time with the children spent with the children playing basketball or kick ball or anything it doesn't matter, going for a walk. This is a great town to walk it's a beautiful city. We've got available bridges that we can walk on and there's no reason why we just can't walk out the door and do it."

Savanna Souza, 6th Grader, "It's so much fun."

Orlando Alcantara, " There's swinging and stuff you get to jump and stuff you get to slide."

Greer Botts, 9 years old, "If you get really bored besides watching tv you can just come here and hang out and stuff.

Noah Wills, 8 years old, "I like the play place cause you can get some exercise."

And a new take on good old fashioned playtime works too.

And for that parents flock to in door playgrounds like the Great Escape at Bradley Square Mall.

Kimberly Wills, Parent, "The kids can exercise and they don't really know that that's what they're doing. They're having a fun time they're with their friends and they're just running all over the place."

And staying fit too.

Nordia Epps WDEF News 12.