OK, you’re gonna like this. How about a health authority coming out and saying that playing video games can actually be good for you!

If you haven’t heard, it’s called “Exertainment.” Here’s what Dr. Thomas Fahey, Dept. of Kinesiology, Exercise Physiology Laboratory at California State University Chico had to say:

“Exertainment will promote metabolic health. Moderate intensity exercise reduces insulin resistance, promotes sodium-potassium pump activity, burns some calories, and promotes nitric oxide production. It also has positive effects on immunity and builds resistance to free radicals.”

Just in case you’re wondering - those are all good things.

Maureen Jeanson, an International Sports Sciences Association Certified trainer recommends using Dance Dance Revolution to get the blood pumping.

“Simply moving can increase one’s metabolism.” She goes on, “The Nintendo Wii can get teens off their butts, but it would need to be a more full-body involvement game to benefit in way of fitness. As far as striving for better fitness, I think the Dance Dance Revolution games have been used successfully by a lot of beginners in various fat burning programs as a way to do enjoyable cardio.”

If you have kids, you’ve probably got some type of game console - Xbox, Wii or Playstation - somewhere in the house. All you need is a fast paced game like Dance Dance Revolution and you’ll be in business.

And if you have trouble getting the kids to stop playing their games so you can use the system, just do what I do. Tell them you’re going to start singing Karaoke - my kids run out of the room every time!

Engadget has a story about Overtime Fitness Gym which includes video games with its fitness machines. I call this exertainment, and I really think it’s a super idea. Ever since I first got on a bicycling game that let me control a plane. I was sweaty and completely zonked by the time I got off of it, and would have loved to have had access to one daily.

Sony has a new sports walkman coming out. The device has sensors in it that track how fast you are moving and adjusts the playlists to accommodate your pace.

It also tracks the amount of calories you burned, the distance you crossed, and the steps you took. Certainly an interesting and worthy competitor to the iPod + Nike combo.

Rumor has it that Nintendo is working on a fun diet game for its Wii mobile platform. Nintendo still has it together as far as making fun games for its platform, sometimes even ones that are educational as well.

Am I the only one that hates the Wii brand name?

Oh yeah, now this is cool. An inventor in Montreal has created an armchair that has a slide out set of pedals. Now that’s some recumbant cycling!

How cool is this? It would allow you to have a piece of exercise equipment that fits in with your decor.

Starling Fitness gets an iPod + Nike and takes it out for a test run.

Ever tried rebounding? No, it’s not when you’ve failed a diet and fallen off the plan again. It’s actually getting your cardio in using a trampoline.

Just don’t break your neck on the ceiling…

Playfeed has an article up about the kilowatt, an isometric device that you plug into your game console, pushing the bar in front of you exercises you.

Ben Roethlisberger came from Findlay, Ohio, not to far north of where I live. As a result the news that he sustained serious head injuries during a motorcycle crash is all over the news here. NetSweat points out that even in regular cycling and fitness activities with cycling or rollerblading you should always wear a helmet.

We’ve talked about Dance Dance Revolution before and how you can combine fun and cardio. Boing Boing points out to the open source software that allows you to have DDR on your personal computer.