The Effects of Exergaming on Physical Activity Among Inactive Children in a Physical Education Classroom

Abstract

Childhood obesity, which is due in part to lack of physical activity, is a serious concern that requires the attention of the behavioral community. Although excessive video game play has been noted in the literature as a contributor to childhood obesity, newer video gaming technology, called exergaming, has been designed to capitalize on the reinforcing effects of video games to increase physical activity in children. This study evaluated the effects of exergaming on physical activity among 4 inactive children in a physical education (PE) classroom. Results showed that exergaming produced substantially more minutes of physical activity and more minutes of opportunity to engage in physical activity than did the standard PE program. In addition, exergaming was socially acceptable to both the students and the PE teacher. Exergaming appears to hold promise as a method for increasing physical activity among inactive children and might be a possible intervention for childhood obesity.

Prevalence and Correlates of Exergaming in Youth

“…15 They are generally played at home but are also used in schools and community centers. 16,17 Because exergames can be played in a variety of settings including unsafe neighborhoods, 18 they can increase opportunities for youth to engage in PA 11,12,16,19,20 and decrease sedentary behavior. 18,19,[21][22][23][24][25] Exergaming may have added value in youth compared with adults because young people are generally more physically active (ie, move more) while exergaming, 26 and game exertion (effort) is not a deterrent to 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.…”

The Effectiveness of Exergames in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Previous studies have indicated that exergaming that increased physical activity in geriatric patients with a high risk of falling or with cardiovascular diseases was practical and safe [15][16][17][18][19][20]. The effects of exergaming on age-related impaired postural control have been examined in some studies [16,17,19].…”

“…The effects of exergaming on age-related impaired postural control have been examined in some studies [16,17,19]. The results showed a significant improvement in balance while walking, which was the main parameter measured by tasks such as the Community Balance and Mobility Scale, the Berg Balance Scale and narrow walk time [16][17][18][19][38][39][40].…”

“…Rehabilitation and exercises programs based on virtual reality are gaining importance nowadays, and the inclusion or adaptation of exergames in rehabilitation and exercises programs is a popular issue. The potential value of exergames, especially in obesity, cardiology, hemiplegia rehabilitation and in chronic musculoskeletal back and neck pain has been demonstrated [15][16][17][18][19][20]. But prior to the current study there has been no research investigating the efficacy of exergames in chronic inflammatory conditions.…”