Isaac Hinds - LIFTstudios Blog

Is this a good thing or another marketing gimic on McDonald’s part?

Hold the fries. Pass the basketball.

McDonald’s, often blamed for childhood obesity, is testing high-tech mini-gyms for kids at seven stores in California, Illinois, Colorado and Oklahoma. The gyms have gizmos for kids ages 4 to 12, from stationary bikes with kid-friendly video screens to hoops courts that electronically cheer players.

If R Gyms €” named for Ronald McDonald, of course €” are a hit, McDonald’s could roll out “a significant number” over the next year, says William Whitman, a McDonald’s spokesman. The mini-gyms would replace PlayPlaces €” of which there are 5,500 nationwide.

Not everyone is a fan of the new R Gyms. Critics say they’re just an image-bolstering bid by Mickey D’s €” or an attempt to dodge obesity lawsuits or legislation.

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He may have lost his Olympia title this year but the man is beyond HUGE…