A Pilot of a Video Game (DDR) to Promote Physical Activity and Decrease Sedentary Screen Time

Abstract

Objective:We examined the feasibility of Dance Dance Revolution (DDR), a dance video game, in participants' homes, to increase physical activity (PA) and to decrease sedentary screen time (SST). Methods and Procedures: Sixty children (7.5 ± 0.5 years) were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to DDR or to wait-list control (10-week delay). DDR use was logged, PA was measured objectively by accelerometry. SST was self-reported at weeks 0 and 10. At week 28, after both groups had access to DDR, accelerometry and SST were repeated. Results: Mean use of DDR was 89 ± 82 (range 0-660 min) min per week (mpw). The DDR group showed increased vigorous PA and a reduction in light PA; the control group showed no increase in moderate and/or vigorous PA (MVPA) although they also had a reduction in light PA. Differences between the groups were not observed. The DDR group also reported a decrease in SST of -1.2 ± 3.7 h per week (hpw) (P < 0.05), whereas the controls reported an increase of +3.0 ± 7.7 hpw (nonsignificant). The difference in SST between the groups was significant, with less SST in the DDR group. Between weeks 10 and 28, numeric reductions in SST were reported in both groups. In the DDR group, SST at week 28 (8.8 ± 6.0 hpw) was lower than baseline (10.5 ± 5.5 hpw; P < 0.03). Discussion: This pilot study suggests that DDR reduces SST and may facilitate slight increases in vigorous PA. Further study is needed to better characterize children and contexts in which DDR may promote a healthy lifestyle.

Prevalence and Correlates of Exergaming in Youth

“…19,[22][23][24][25] The feasibility of exergaming in community centers or at school needs to be tested, and research on the sustainability of exergaming is warranted. 19,29,40 Reported barriers to exergaming (ie, boredom, decreases in use over time, technical problems, cost) need to be addressed. 18 Facilitators of exergames (ie, social support, competition, music, experience, new consoles, multiple player modes, contact with players in separate rooms, contact via Internet) hold promise in sustaining exergaming.…”

“…29 The primary purpose of extant exergaming studies has been to describe energy expended during exergaming. 12, 16,17,23,24,26,[30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37] Several studies also examine maintenance of exergaming over time, [38][39][40][41][42] and at least 3 small 43 and 1 large trial 44 evaluate exergaming as a method to increase PA in youth. Two of the 3 small trials indicated modest improvements in PA, and the large longer trial suggested that exergaming leads to small but statistically significant decreases in BMI as well as improvements in body composition in overweight children.…”

Psyhical effort, energy expediture, and motivation in structured and unstructured active video games: a randomized controlled trial

“…Nevertheless, in a 10-week study with an unstructured AVG (DDR AVG intervention), a reduction was observed of light PA during the day and elevation of vigorous PA in the participants' lives. It can be thus concluded that AVGs promote the elevation of basal metabolism [14].…”

Exergames como alternativa para o aumento do dispêndio energético: uma revisão sistemática

“…Três deles realizaram o recrutamento de crianças saudáveis [18][19][20] , um estudo envolveu crianças obesas e com sobrepeso 21 e, em outro 22 foram utilizadas crianças com sobrepeso. Dois estudos envolveram intervenção com duração de 12 semanas 18,20 , dois com duração de 24 semanas 22 e um com duração de 28 semanas 19 . Detalhes metodológicos e os dados extraídos estão resumidos na Tabela 2.…”

“…Dados discrepantes foram encontrados nos estudos de Graves et al 20 e de Maloney et al 19 , nos quais não foram observadas diferenças significativas entre os grupos intervenção e controle, após 12 e 28 semanas de intervenção, respectivamente.…”