The Effect of Game-Based Balance Training on Body Composition and Psychomotor Performance of Obese Students

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of game-based balance training on body composition and psychomotor performance of obese students. Methods: The study recruited a convenience sample of 23 volunteer students in the fifth and sixth grades. The students were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Anthropometric characteristics including weight, percent body fat, and muscle mass were measured at pretest and posttest via a body composition analyzer. The level of physical activity was measured by the international physical activity questionnaire-short form (IPAQ-SF). Psychomotor performance was measured using Vienna’s universal system. Results: The results indicated that all parameters of psychomotor performance improved following the game-based balance training (P ≤ 0.05). Median cognitive reaction time (532 ms at pretest vs. 520 ms at posttest; P = 0.027) and median motor time (1.90 at pretest vs. 1.75 s at posttest; P = 0.001) improved significantly after the intervention. Movement accuracy including correct response (20.50 at pretest vs. 22.83 at posttest; P = 0.001) and correct rejection (30.37 at pretest vs. 32.2 at posttest; P = 0.001) also improved after the exercise protocol. However, no significant change was found in body composition variables (P ≥ 0.05). Conclusions: Game-based balance training is highly recommended for improving the psychomotor performance of obese students. However, such an exercise was unable to make positive changes in the body composition of obese students.