Two new studies may provide some ammo for kids that want to get more time in front of the Wii or Kinect. According to researchers at Brigham Young University and University of Massachusetts, “exergaming” for 10 minutes can result in a workout as stimulating as walking three miles on a treadmill.

Consumer Reports Health took a jog through the results:

Games that require players to physically move and interact, such as Dance Dance Revolution and Nintendo Wii’s Boxing, can lead to “a high level of energy expenditure,” according to a study released online today in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.

Researchers at Brigham Young University in Salt Lake City and the University of Massachusetts in Boston tested six active video games with 39 boys and girls.

Playing these so-called “exergames” for 10 minutes produced a workout that, depending on the game, nearly equaled or greatly exceeded that produced by spending an equal amount of time walking three miles an hour on a treadmill. What’s more, overweight kids and those at-risk of becoming overweight enjoyed exergaming more than children who weren’t overweight.

Just be prepared for your kids to start boasting about how they beat Mario and Yoshi, instead of their real playground nemeses.

‘Exergaming’ is good for kids [Consumer Reports Health]

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