新奇事件簿 增加玩具重量可预防儿童肥胖（在线收听）

Researchers at an American university have found a new and simple way to help children burn more calories and stay slim. Their idea is to make toys heavier and so make children work harder during playtime. The research team, at Indiana State University, did tests on ten young volunteers aged between six to eight years. The kids played with toys and teddy bears that contained steel blocks weighing one-and-a-half kilograms. Test results showed the children with the heavier toys burnt more calories than other children playing with regular toys. The research may change how children play and increase the muscles of parents who tidy up after their kids.

美国一所大学的研究人员发现了帮助儿童燃烧卡路里，保持苗条的新方法，非常简单。他们的想法是，把玩具做得重一点，这样孩子们玩的时候就更费力。印第安纳州立大学研究团队对10名6到8岁的儿童进行了测试。这些孩子的泰迪熊玩具中装了钢块，重量约1.5千克。测试结果显示，玩较重的玩具的孩子燃烧的卡路里比玩普通玩具的孩子更多。研究或许会改变孩子们玩耍的方式，也会让家长们在孩子玩耍过后收拾玩具时增强肌肉。

Lead researcher Dr. John Ozmun doubted his research would solve the problem of overweight kids but said, "it could be a small part of the puzzle”. He added: “This study provides one answer to the current trend of declining fitness in America's youth." He explained that: "Handling heavier objects…may provide opportunities to increase workload…allowing for...improvements in children's physical fitness." He told reporters that his findings are just a starting point and that weighted toys would take a long time to be on toy store shelves. He guessed they would first be used by physical therapists to help their young patients with strength, balance and coordination.

首席研究人员John Ozmun认为他的研究可以解决儿童超重的问题，但是他说，“这只是谜题的一小部分。”他补充说：“这项研究为美国儿童身体素质下降提供了一个解决方案。”他解释说：“拿较重的玩具让孩子们有机会增加工作量，提高儿童的身体素质。”他告诉记者，他的发现只是一个开始，较重的玩具需要很长时间才能上架。他猜测，首先应该由物理治疗师来帮助小病人们增强力量，平衡能力和协调能力。