A Nova Scotia mother thinks she may have stumbled upon a solution to the problem of child obesity: Bringing video games to the gym to let teens exercise not only their joystick thumbs but the rest of their bodies too.

Holly Bond came up with the idea of a video arcade/fitness centre after her own son started gaining weight. She realized that with so many children now considered obese, there was a market for a gym catered to kids.

So she created Bulldog Interactive Fitness in Halifax, to get kids back on the road to fitness by making it fun. Now, the very machines that parents blame for making kids fat are getting them back in shape.

"They're getting a cardio workout. They're sweating, breathing heavy, and they don't even know they're working out," says Bond.

"We don't give them enough credit: They do want to be fit. We just haven't given them options."

Tiffany Douglas, 14, regularly attends the gym. She never liked to exercise but now, she's pedaling away the pounds.

"I felt like I was overweight, so I decided to come," she says.

She uses an exercise bike attached to a Playstation that simulates her mountain biking.

"If you start pedalling, you move. And if you stop, you don't move," she explains.

Twelve-year-old Megan Beaudoin has boogied away six pounds in the last month, working out on what's called a dance pad. She follows the dance steps on the screen, moving her feet from square to square on the pad beneath her feet.

"I'm getting more self-confidence. Actually, I used to hate wearing shorts, and now I love them. I love shorts," she beams.

The centre, which is supervised by fitness professionals and Certified Personal Trainers, also features a rotating climbing wall and weight machines sized for teenagers.

Holly Bond realized that with so many children now considered obese, there was a market for a gym catered to kids. And while memberships are adult sized -- $30 to $40 per month -- many parents are happy to pay it.

The idea's been such a hit, Holly's hoping to add franchises across the country.