A government survey recently found that around 25 million kids are either already obese or on the verge of being obese. But a new “reality” board game called The Fitness Challenge may soon change those numbers.

The Fitness Challenge is a unique game that promotes a healthier lifestyle for parents and kids. According to the press release, “the object of The Fitness Challenge is for two people of any age or fitness level to challenge each other to participate in and complete an eight-week exercise program.

Each player completes a contract with a start and end date, agrees on their respective current fitness levels, and builds a wager book of coupons for awards they’d really like to win — think a day at the spa or dinner.... These coupons provide the motivation for completing the exercise program by creating a friendly competition between spouses, friends, co-workers or kids.”

The game was created by Vicki Sorensen, a software sales professional. She thought it up as a way for her and her fiance to become fit in time for their wedding. And when she gained 60 pounds after having two kids, the game "kept me motivated to lose the weight,” she said in a press release. “Today, I’m in the best shape of my life.”

The exercise-oriented lifestyle promoted by The Fitness Challenge is key (along with a healty diet) to losing weight. “In fact,” the press release notes, “when the Food and Drug Administration unveiled its revised food pyramid, it added physical activity for the first time ever as a requirement to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.”

The Fitness Challenge retails for $29.95.

Until next time!