Japanese Game Aids US War on Obesity

A Japanese entertainment company will help children in West Virginia fight the battle of the bulge by getting them to dance along to its video game during gym classes, according to the Financial Times.

All 765 of West Virginia's public schools will incorporate Konami's Dance Dance Revolution video game in the curriculum within the next two years in an effort to fight the state's growing epidemic of childhood obesity.

Konami's interactive video game, which has been hugely popular in Japan, was introduced into the US in 2001. Players dance on a mat connected to the video game console, tapping their feet in tune to symbols that pop up on the screen. Each version of the game has a workout mode that allows users to track the number of calories burned.