Published: January 26, 2006 07:39 pm      

Dance Dance Revolution — Youth physical project needs support

If middle school students like dancing more than dodge ball, so be it. As long as they’re exercising, the state, parents and the public should support a new program which aims to get a dance video game in all public schools.

West Virginia has long had a problem with obesity, and now it’s a significant health risk to our children. Close to half — 46 percent — of more than 30,000 fifth graders screened for a coronary artery risk project from 1999 to 2005 were overweight or obese, the Associated Press recently reported from the Institute of Medicine guidelines.

Weight problems can lead to high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis and some cancers.

The video game project is an expansion of a pilot program that began last spring in 20 state middle schools. The game, Dance Dance Revolution, was put in the schools to target youths in the 10 to 14-year-old age bracket — not to replace physical education or health education, but as an option for students who may dislike some sports.

“When you’re looking at health promotion, you do whatever we can to get kids to eat healthier and move more,” Melanie Purkey, who directs health promotion for the state Department of Education, told the AP.

We agree.

Not all students are going to excel at traditional sports such as basketball, football, baseball or soccer. For these students rope climbing may be seen as a nightmare; calisthenics, a horror to be endured.

But dancing — well, dancing is different. Students don’t have to be voted Most Athlete or run the mile in record time to excel at this activity.

And it’s fun.

The goal of the project is to get the dance games, at a cost of about $740 each, into West Virginia’s 157 middle schools next month, and ultimately all state public schools.

The project is expected to cost $500,000, with part of the funding coming from PEIA and Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield, and game manufacturer Konami Digital Entertainment providing $75,000.

Private funding is now being sought to finance the remainder of the cost.

We hope parents and private businesses will recognize the importance of this program and pitch in to support this worthwhile project. Ultimately, the health of our children, and our state, may depend on it.