Role of Exergame Play on Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Body Composition in Overweight and Obese Children

Abstract

Background: Exergaming is an ideal vehicle for promoting regular physical activity among children who may be reluctant to participate in traditional types of exercise. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of six weeks of exergaming and traditional video gaming on body composition and cardiovascular fitness variables among overweight and obese children. Methods: Thirty-one overweight and obese children (11.40 ± 0.86 years) were recruited from three primary schools in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Participants were assigned to either an exergaming group (n = 11), traditional gaming group (n = 10) or control group (n = 10). Body composition variables (body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)) and cardiovascular fitness variables (resting heart rate (RHR), resting systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak)) were measured. A paired sample t-test was used to determine changes from baseline to post-assessment within each group. Results: No significant improvements were observed in BMI percentile among the exergaming group (P = 0.25), traditional gaming group (P = 0.06) and control group (P = 0.25). Waist-to-hip ratio significantly decreased following exergaming (P = 0.050), but not following traditional gaming (P = 0.060) and in control group (P = 0.200). Significant improvement in RHR was found in the exergaming group (P = 0.010), but none in the traditional gaming group (P = 0.280) and control group (P = 0.720). No significant improvements were noted in resting SBP following exergaming (P = 0.790), traditional video gaming (P = 0.730) and in the control group (P = 0.610). Diastolic blood pressure did not significantly improve in the exergaming group (P = 0.070), traditional video gaming group (P = 0.360) or control group (P = 0.100). Peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) did not significantly improve in the exergaming group (P = 0.830), traditional gaming group (P = 0.710) or control group (P = 0.450). Conclusions: Findings indicate that six weeks of exergaming induced favorable changes in waist-to-hip ratio and RHR among overweight and obese children. Thereby demonstrating that non-traditional modes of exercise such as exergaming can be used as an alternative to traditional modes of exercise to induce somebody composition and cardiovascular changes.

Effects of a Short Video Physical Activity Program on Physical Fitness Among Physical Education Students

“…One of the reasons for the fitness improvements observed in the experimental group could be that, after the children watched the videos, they made a connection between the importance and benefits of PA and actually increased their own PA. Other research has also revealed that the BB videos were effective in increasing students' self-efficacy levels in learning about PA and health (Uzunöz et al, 2017), in understanding the benefits of a healthy life (Emeljanovas et al, 2014;Tumynaite et al, 2014;Van Biljon & Longhurst, 2010), and in positively changing their attitudes towards health (Bonnema et al, 2020). In a study carried out by West and Shores (2014) to investigate the effects of the BB PA videos on the PA level of seventh-and eighth-grade students, there was an increase in the duration of student participation in moderate to vigorous activities.…”

Exergames to Limit Weight Gain and to Fight Sedentarism in Children and Adolescents with Obesity

“…Physical inactivity represent a major health burden, comparable to obesity and smoking, contributing to more than 5.3 million deaths worldwide [ 1 , 62 ]. In fact, physical inactivity is a key factor in the increase of fat storage and adiposity [ 63 , 64 ], so practicing physical activity and combating sedentariness are known as promising strategies for preventing childhood obesity [ 65 , 66 ].…”

“…In fact, physical inactivity is a key factor in the increase of fat storage and adiposity [ 63 , 64 ], so practicing physical activity and combating sedentariness are known as promising strategies for preventing childhood obesity [ 65 , 66 ]. Globally, children and young people are becoming less active [ 1 , 67 ] and increasing their time spent in sedentary activities, such as watching television and playing videogames. The recommended daily physical activity levels for children are at least 1 h of moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity [ 63 , 68 ] and less than 2 h of time spent on the screen [ 63 , 69 ].…”

“…Mass interest in video games among children has brought forth a new technology: exergaming, also known as active video games [ 63 ]. Exergames have emerged as an innovative approach to combating childhood obesity [ 1 , 2 ]. Exergames capitalize on children’s interest in computerized video games and their need for increased physical activity [ 71 ].…”

“…The global prevalence of pediatric obesity (OB) is rising and thus emerging as a global public health problem [ 1 , 2 ].…”