Q. Does playing Wii tennis count as exercise?

A. Video games like Wii sports can help get kids off the couch and involved in physical activity, but are not a replacement for real exercise. Although they may help motivate a child who is less active, parents should not be lulled into a false sense of security. Virtual sports are not nearly as intense as the actual sports they imitate and therefore should not be a child's only form of physical activity.

Wii sports are different than traditional joy-stick controlled games because they use a motion-sensitive wireless controller, requiring players to swing their arms to simulate swinging a tennis racket or hitting a baseball. Another interactive video game, Dance Dance Revolution, requires a player to step on a pad and copy dance moves.

A recent study found that teenagers playing an active Wii game (tennis or boxing) burned approximately 60 more calories per hour than playing a sedentary X-Box 360 game. This isn't a huge amount of calories.

A child at rest burns about 70 calories per hour. An hour of Xbox Project Gotham 3 Racing burns about 107 calories. An hour of Wii tennis burns about 179 calories. This is certainly less than an hour of real tennis, which burns 300 to 500 calories.

During Wii tennis, players move their arms, but are not running around chasing tennis balls. Most virtual sports games are not intense enough to qualify as aerobic exercise. To burn a lot of fat and calories, you need to use the large muscles in your legs. If set to the "workout" level, however, the Dance Dance Revolution game burns a substantial amount of calories since participants are actually dancing.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that kids perform 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily. Physical activity should burn up at least three times as many calories as when they are at rest.

Virtual sports games offer some benefits. They can improve hand-eye coordination and build a child's confidence. Active virtual sports can be part of a healthy lifestyle by getting a sedentary child up on their feet and moving.

These games may make a small contribution toward weight loss, but keiki should also be encouraged to participate in other physical activities as part of a balanced life.

Families should take advantage of our beautiful mountains, ocean and climate by hiking, biking, swimming and enjoying other outdoor activities.