Exergaming And Body Mass Index Among Female Adolescent In Riyadh Saudi Arabia

Abstract

PURPOSE: To examine the association between exergaming and body mass index (BMI) among female adolescents in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A sample of 200 female students age 10-14 years in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia completed a self-administered questionnaire with the help of their parents after the completion of an informed consent letter by the parents. Anthropometric measurements of weight and height took place at schools under controlled conditions after the completion of the enrollment questionnaire. The survey instrument included items and scales adopted from the validated Adolescent Sedentary Activity Questionnaire (ASAQ) that assessed the time spent watching TV, videogames as well as sitting hours during weekdays and weekend. The survey questions included the type and duration of exergaming. The questions on the survey were translated into Arabic using the back-method translation. A multiple linear regression model was conducted to examine the association of exergaming with BMI. RESULTS: There was a significant negative association between exergaming and BMI among Saudi female adolescents after the adjusting for several covariates (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Exergaming is associated with lower BMI among female adolescent in Saudi Arabia. This could be an alternative solution for being more active in a population with limited physical activity options due to cultural norms