The prospect of summer is fuelling our fitness resolve and we have hit the gym in an effort to burn off that unwanted flab and get ready for the beach. To further strengthen our resolve, the usual range of magical products have made an appearance, promising rapid weight loss at minimal effort and making dieting easy and fun.

The reality, as we all know, is very different and common sense dictates that when a new fitness product sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Nevertheless, people buy the weirdest type of fitness products in the hope that they make it much easier – and less tiring – to achieve weight loss glory.

Enter game consoles, their futuristic motion detecting add-ons and fitness games, also known as exergames. Slick advertising campaigns present the image of toned bodies breaking a sweat while playing games, with sharp moves and determined faces. Every major game platform offers the option to bring workouts to the living room and supposedly turn a traditional gaming console into your very own personal trainer.

But are exergames yet another fad or can they actually make a difference in helping you keep fit and lose weight, like the traditional workouts you’re used to?

Keen consumer interest in these fitness games is only natural. All it takes is getting an upgrade for your game console (a camera which detects and records your movements, in its simplest explanation), pop in a fitness game sponsored by your favourite sports clothing brand, and you’re set to burn off those fat deposits. You get a workout in the comfort of your own home without having to drive to the gym or put up with smelly, sweaty changing rooms. Moreover, it’s rewarding because it’s fun and you lose weight. What’s not to like, right?

Getting children to live a more active lifestyle by coupling physical activity with the reward of exergaming fun can provide long-term benefits

But first, let’s consider what causes your body to tap into your fat stores for energy. Simplistically put, combining a sensible diet with varied physical activity forms the foundation of any fitness goal. They both take hard work, dedication and consistency – mentally as well as physically. Assuming you’ve put together a solid diet (and by diet I don’t mean starvation), either to lose weight or retain your current weight, can exergames give you an effective workout?

Sorry to burst your bubble, lazy exerciser, but the short answer is no.

Real fitness results, apart from good nutrition, are gained from aerobic exercise at medium to high intensity. The keyword here is intensity, which causes an increased heart rate that sets in motion various processes in your body. This boosts your metabolism, heating up your internal furnace so your muscles get supplied with the energy they need to perform. Your body needs to be challenged to be able to tone up and reduce your body fat percentage.

Research on the impact of exergaming on overall fitness and health are being conducted by various institutions worldwide, including by the Exergaming Research Centre at the University of Calgary. Careful conclusions so far indicate that although exergames are a good alternative to more traditional couch potato type games, the level of intensity achieved in most of these games is unlikely to make them a suitable alternative to a challenging cardio workout. These findings are supported by several other research projects, such as those conducted by the American Council on Exercise and the University of Massachusetts Department of Exercise and Health Sciences – these are independent studies which aren’t funded by sports games developers.

Does that mean exergames are just another magic potion without the results to match the promise?

Not necessarily. Although exergames are unlikely to provide fitness junkies and dieters with the type of workout they need, it’s safe to say that that any exercise is better than no exercise. In fact, by providing moderate physical activity, exergames can be a decent substitute for traditional exercise for a daily dose of 30 minutes of physical activity recommended for long-term health benefits.

There’s also compelling evidence for studies on the benefits of exergaming in children. Research by Dr Louise Naylor and researchers at the University of Western Australia, Liverpool John Moores University, and Swansea University suggests that getting children to live a more active lifestyle by coupling physical activity with the reward of exergaming fun can provide long-term benefits.

Other studies, such as the 2009 Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth, show that physical activity in children may also result in improved academic performance, adding to the benefits of exergaming.

One of the biggest factors that work against those of us who aren’t born with a natural desire to exercise is motivation. It’s a psychological switch which is difficult to flip because doing your time on a treadmill is simply not enjoyable to most people. Although achieving serious fitness goals through exergaming is unlikely, perhaps it’s a good first step to help you get off the sofa.

Christina Goggi is a web marketing content specialist and a regular blogger on various tech websites.