Lawson Researchers Examine Active Video Games for Childhood Obesity Prevention
17% of children ages 2-19 are affected by youth obesity. The rate has quadrupled since the 1980s. What’s more, the repercussions are frightening: hypertension, type II diabetes, fatty liver disease, and a host of other “adult” illnesses are now emerging in children.
With research suggesting that 83% of American youth have a t least one gaming console in their bedroom, many attribute these growing risks and growing waistlines to the popularity of screen-based activities.
However, I-THINK researchers at Lawson Hleath Research Institute are now suggesting video games may provide a strong platform to promote youth physical activity and nutrition.
With the emergence of games like Dance-Dance-Revolution and the Wii system, gaming entertainment has shifted towards more active alternatives, and the I-THINK team members believe this growing popularity may be leveraged to target obesity prevention and self-care.
To determine the healthy potential, researchers at I-THINK conducted a systematic literature review of active video games. Between 1998 and 2011, they identified a total of 34 studies across two categories: physically active video games, or “exergames,” and interactive video games that don’t necessarily include a physical activity component.
Although the metrics used in each study were different, the I-THINK team consistently noted that children playing active video games experienced a light to moderate increase in physical activity. Increases in exercise expenditure, heart rate, and step counts were also noted, as well as decreases in waist size, weight, and BMI.
