Acceptability of an Online Health Videogame to Improve Diet and Physical Activity in Elementary School Students: “Fitter Critters”

Abstract

Objective: Interest in health videogames to stimulate health behavior change is increasing, yet little research exists on their use. This study tested the acceptability of an online health videogame called ''Fitter CrittersÔ'' (Megazoid Games, Collegeville, PA) for improving healthy diet and activity in elementary school students. Subjects and Methods: In October and November 2011, fifth grade students (n = 97) from a school in central Massachusetts played the game for 1 week during their health class. Measures of nutrition and activity knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy were completed prior to playing the game and again on the final day along with a videogame acceptability questionnaire. Results: The videogame was highly acceptable to participants as measured by the acceptability questionnaire mean rating of 4.52 (SD = 0.60), where 1 = strongly disagree and 5 = strongly agree; 73% of students played the game at least once outside of class. Significant increases in positive attitudes toward healthy eating (P < 0.001) and healthy eating self-efficacy (P = 0.02) and marginally significant increases in nutrition knowledge (P = 0.08) were observed. Conclusions: The ''Fitter Critters'' health videogame engages students in learning about healthy eating and activity. Further research should assess whether the positive changes observed in knowledge, attitudes, and selfefficacy translate into behavior change.

Feasibility and Safety of a Virtual Reality Dodgeball Intervention for Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial

“…38 Specifically, the Game Experience Survey asked the participants to provide 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree) ratings of their experience along 14 dimensions (e.g., the game was fun; playing the game made me worry about injuring my back; I would recommend the game to other people with back pain). In addition, they were invited to provide written responses to four open-ended questions, including “What did you like most about the game?”, “What did you like least about the game?”, “What would make the game better?”, and “What would make the game easier to learn?” Finally, all participants returned on session five to repeat the standardized reaching task, provide information on current pain medication use, and to complete RMDQ and MPQ measures.…”

Chances and Limitations of Video Games in the Fight against Childhood Obesity—A Systematic Review

“…Only overweight children All (n = 64) n = 52 n = 12 Serious games (n = 21) n = 21 n = 0 Exergames (n = 39) n = 30 n = 9 Combined approach (n = 4) n = 1 n = 3 1 Five studies did not report their exact study length (Bailey & McInnis, 2011;Fogel et al, 2010;Haddock et al, 2009;Pempek & Calvert, 2009;Sit et al, 2010). 2 Five studies only reported the grade of the children (Johnson-Glenberg et al, 2014;Robertson & Zalles, 2005;Schneider et al, 2012;Thompson et al, 2015;Yien et al, 2011) and eight others a range of age (Adamo et al, 2010;Baranowski et al, 2011;Finco et al, 2015;Foley et al, 2014;McDougall & Duncan, 2008;Munguba et al, 2008;Straker & Abbott, 2007;Thompson et al, 2008). 3 All studies were conducted in girls and boys except for six studies: Four studies only included boys (Chaput, Genin, et al, 2015a;Chaput, Schwartz, et al, 2015b;Chaput et al, 2016;Gribbon et al, 2015) and two studies only included girls (Staiano et al, 2016;Thompson et al, 2008).…”

Nutrition Science and Behavioral Theories Integrated in a Serious Game for Adolescents

“…Thus, researchers are targeting media and games to develop interventions to promote health and awareness, but in a fun and entertaining way compatible with media usage. However, few nutrition games that have been developed and evaluated and showed promise at promoting eating and physical activity behaviors are: SQUIRE'S QUEST, ESCAPE FROM DIAB and FRITTER CRITTERS (Baranowski, Baranowski, Cullen, Marsh, 2003;Baranowski et al, 2011;Schneider et al, 2012). SQUIRE'S QUEST is a computer game designed to promote elementary school children's consumption of fruit, juice, and vegetable to prevent other illnesses in the long run.…”

“…FRITTER CRITTERS is an online video game for elementary school children that aimed to promote healthy diet and activity. A pilot evaluation showed significant increases in positive attitudes towards healthy eating and healthy eating self-efficacy (Schneider et al, 2012). The first two games focused largely on increasing fruit and vegetable consumption in children, whereas; the later focused on overall healthy eating and physical activity.…”