Sedentary Video Games Research Articles

Videojuegos activos, videojuegos convencionales y actividad física en adolescentes de secundaria

El objetivo del presente trabajo es conocer el tiempo dedicado por una muestra de 570 adolescentes de secundaria a los videojuegos activos, los videojuegos convencionales y la práctica de actividad física de intensidad moderada-vigorosa. Las pruebas t para muestras independientes realizadas indicaron que los chicos dedican más tiempo que las chicas a la práctica de actividad física y al uso de videojuegos convencionales y activos. Los análisis de correlación lineal simple efectuados señalaron que en las chicas estas conductas no presentan relación alguna, mientras que en el grupo de chicos, los que más juegan a videojuegos activos son aquellos que más juegan a videojuegos convencionales y más tiempo dedican a la actividad física. Estos datos añaden una información interesante a la línea de investigación que estudia las relaciones entre el uso de medios tecnológicos y los estilos de vida activo y sedentario.

Comparing the Physiological Cost of Step-Powered Video Gaming, Sedentary Video Gaming, and Self-Paced Ambulatory Activity in University Students

Objectives: Methods for converting inactive video gaming to active video gaming have gained popularity in recent years. This study compared the physiological cost of a new peripheral device that used steps to power video gaming in an interactive manner against sedentary video gaming and self-paced ambulatory activity of university students (aged 19-29 years). Methods: Nineteen adults (9 male, 10 female) performed six 10-minute activities, namely self-paced leisurely walking, self-paced brisk walking, self-paced jogging, two forms of sedentary video gaming, and step-powered video gaming. Activities were performed in a random order. Physiological cost during the activities was measured using Actiheart. Results: Energy expenditure during step-powered video gaming (388.8 kcal.h -1 ) was comparable to the energy expended during brisk walking (373.8 kcal.h -1 ), and elicited a higher energy cost than sedentary video gaming (124.1 kcal.h -1 ) but a lower energy cost than jogging (694.5 kcal.h -1 ). Conclusion : Overall, step-powered video gaming could be used as an entertaining and appealing tool to increase physical activity, though it should not be used as a complete substitute for traditional exercise, such as jogging.

The energy expenditure of an activity-promoting video game compared to sedentary video games and TV watching

In the present study we investigated the effect of television watching and the use of activity-promoting video games on energy expenditure in obese and lean children. Energy expenditure and physical activity were measured while participants were watching television, playing a video game on a traditional sedentary video game console, and while playing the same video game on an activity-promoting video game console. Energy expenditure was significantly greater than television watching and playing video games on a sedentary video game console when children played the video game on the activity-promoting console. When examining movement with accelerometry, children moved significantly more when playing the video game on the Nintendo Wii console. Activity-promoting video games have shown to increase movement, and be an important tool to raise energy expenditure by 50% when compared to sedentary activities of daily living.

The Effect of Active Video Gaming on Children’s Physical Activity, Behavior Preferences and Body Composition

Active video game interventions typically provide children a single game that may become unappealing. A peripheral device (jOG) encourages step-powered gaming on multiple games. This trial evaluated the effect of jOG on children's objectively measured PA, body fat and self-reported behaviors. 42 of 58 eligible children (8-10 y) randomly assigned to an intervention (jOG) or control (CON) completed the trial. Intervention children received two jOG devices for home use. Analyses of covariance compared the intervention effect at 6 and 12 weeks from baseline. No differences were found between groups for counts per minute (CPM; primary outcome) at 6 and 12 weeks (p > .05). Active video gaming increased (adjusted change 0.95 (95% CI 0.25, 1.65) h·d⁻¹, p <.01) and sedentary video gaming decreased (-0.34 (-1.24, 0.56) h·d⁻¹, p > .05) at 6 weeks relative to CON. No body fat changes were observed between groups. Targeted changes in video game use did not positively affect PA. Larger trials are needed to verify the impact of active video games on children's PA and health.

The Physiological Cost and Enjoyment of Wii Fit in Adolescents, Young Adults, and Older Adults

Active video games (exergames) increase energy expenditure (EE) and physical activity (PA) compared with sedentary video gaming. The physiological cost and enjoyment of exergaming in adolescents, and young and older adults has not been documented, nor compared with aerobic exercise. This study compared the physiological cost and enjoyment of exergaming on Wii Fit with aerobic exercise in 3 populations. Cardiorespiratory and enjoyment measurements were compared in 14 adolescents, 15 young adults, and 13 older adults during handheld inactive video gaming, Wii Fit activities (yoga, muscle conditioning, balance, aerobics), and brisk treadmill walking and jogging. For all groups EE and heart rate (HR) of Wii Fit activities were greater than handheld gaming (P < .001) but lower than treadmill exercise (P <or= .001). Wii aerobics elicited moderate intensity activity in adolescents, young adults, and older adults with respective mean (SD) metabolic equivalents of 3.2 (0.7), 3.6 (0.8), and 3.2 (0.8). HR during Wii aerobics fell below the recommended intensity for maintaining cardiorespiratory fitness. Group enjoyment rating was greater for Wii balance and aerobics compared with treadmill walking and jogging (P <or= .05). Wii Fit appears an enjoyable exergame for adolescents and adults, stimulating light-to-moderate intensity activity through the modification of typically sedentary leisure behavior.

Motivation and Physiologic Responses of Playing a Physically Interactive Video Game Relative to a Sedentary Alternative in Children

While there is emerging research outlining the physiologic cost of the physically interactive Nintendo Wii, there are no evaluations of the relative reinforcing value (RRV) of the Wii versus a sedentary alternative. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the physiologic cost, RRV, and liking of playing Wii Sports Boxing (Wii) versus a traditional sedentary video game (SVG) in 11 lean and 13 overweight/obese 8- to 12-year-old children. Heart rate (HR) and VO(2) were assessed during rest, treadmill walking, and playing an SVG and Wii using a counterbalance design. Liking was assessed during treadmill walking and video game play. RRV was assessed for Wii versus SVG. Average HR, VO(2), and liking were significantly greater for Nintendo Wii (p < or = 0.001 for all) than all other conditions. Lean children displayed a greater (p < 0.001) peak responding for access to Wii relative to the SVG while overweight/obese children did not (p > or = 0.16). Wii was a well-liked activity of greater physiologic intensity than both the SVG and treadmill walking. Lean children were more motivated while overweight/obese children were equally as motivated to play Wii relative to the SVG.

The Physiologic Effects And Reinforcing Value Of Playing A Physically-interactive Video Game In Children.

BACKGROUND: Physically-interactive video games may allow for the continuation of the reinforcing behavior of playing video games while simultaneously increasing physical activity in children. No research exists evaluating the acute physiologic effects, liking and the relative reinforcing value (RRV) of playing the physically-interactive Nintendo Wii versus a traditional sedentary video game in children. PURPOSE: To determine if VO2, heart rate (HR) and liking of playing Nintendo Wii Sport Boxing was greater than a sedentary video game and treadmill walking. The RRV of playing the Nintendo Wii versus a sedentary video game was also examined. METHODS: HR, VO2, and liking were recorded in boys (n = 12, age 10.5 ± 1.7 years) and girls (n = 12, age 10.3 ± 1.6 years) during three, 10-minute conditions; playing a sedentary video game (Nintendo Punch-Out!), playing Nintendo Wii Sport Boxing, and treadmill walking (1.5 miles·hour-1). HR and VO2 were also measured during 10-minutes of supine rest. Children then performed an operant button pressing task using a progressive fixed ratio schedule to assess the RRV of Nintendo Wii versus Punch-Out!. Children worked to earn access to a total of seven minutes for Nintendo Wii or Punch-Out! and time earned for each game was the measure of RRV. RESULTS: Gender (male, female) by condition (Wii, Punch-Out!, treadmill for liking with resting added for HR and VO2) ANOVAs demonstrated significant main effects for condition (P < 0.01 for all) as HR (124.4 ± 20.3 beats·min-1 Wii, 106.6 ± 12.6 beats·min-1 next greatest), VO2 (11.7 ± 3.2 ml·kg-1·min-1 Wii, 10.2 ± 2.4 ml·kg-1·min-1 next greatest), and liking (8.5 ± 1.8 cm Wii, 6.0 ± 3.1cm next greatest) were greater for Wii relative to all other conditions. Gender by condition (Wii, Punchout) ANCOVA, co-varying for prior Wii experience (some experience, no experience), demonstrated a significant main effect for condition (P = 0.04) as children, when playing the RRV computer task, earned more time for Wii (4.5 ± 2.9 min) relative to Punch-Out! (2.5 ± 2.9min). There were no main or interaction effects for gender (P ≥ 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Wii Boxing was more physiologically challenging than both a sedentary video game and treadmill walking. Despite this greater physiologic challenge, Wii Boxing was more well-liked and more reinforcing than a sedentary video game.

Energy Cost Of Physically Active Video Gaming Against A Human Or Computer Opponent

Playing a physically active video game increases energy expenditure above that of sedentary video game play. And anecdotal reports suggest that people play harder against other people then against the computer system. However, the energy expenditure of playing a physically active video game against another person has not been evaluated. Furthermore, most of the research on energy expenditure during physically active video game play has been conducted in children even though young adults represent a large portion of the video game market. PURPOSE: To determine if there is a difference in energy expenditure while playing Nintendo Wii Boxing against a Human or Computer opponent, and to evaluate the energy expenditure in young adults. METHODS: Twenty college-aged adults (10 males, 22.5 ± 0.5 y:10 females, 21.0 ± 0.4 y) were measured for body composition and maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max) before playing Nintendo Wii Boxing for 15 minutes against a human or computer opponent, in a randomized manner, while heart rate, oxygen consumption, and energy expenditure were measured. RESULTS: Heart rate, oxygen consumption, and energy expenditure were all higher (P<0.05) at VO2max than any other condition. Heart rates (beats/min) while playing the video game were higher (P<0.05) for both the Human (103.8 ± 4.3) and Computer (104.6 ± 4.6) opponent than at rest (75.4 ± 2.9), with no differences between gender or video game opponent. Oxygen consumption (ml/kg/min) while playing the video game was higher (P<0.05) for both the Human (14.6 ± 1.80) and Computer (14.4 ± 1.66) opponent than at rest (4.4 ± 0.51), with no differences between gender or video game opponent. CONCLUSIONS: The present data support previous investigations indicating that playing a physically active video game increases heart rate, oxygen consumption, and energy expenditure, but the magnitude of increase is not sufficient to classify physically active video game play as even moderate intensity exercise. These data also indicate that the magnitude of increase in energy expenditure while playing a physically active video game is similar in children and young adults. The present data further suggest that playing against a computer or human opponent does not alter the magnitude of increase in energy expenditure associated with physically active video game play.

Activity-Promoting Video Games and Increased Energy Expenditure

To test the hypothesis that both children and adults would expend more calories and move more while playing activity-promoting video games compared with sedentary video games. In this single-group study, 22 healthy children (12 +/- 2 years; 11 male, 11 female) and 20 adults (34 +/- 11 years; 10 male, 10 female) were recruited. Energy expenditure and physical activity were measured while participants were resting, standing, watching television seated, sitting and playing a traditional sedentary video game, and while playing an activity-promoting video game (Nintendo Wii Boxing). Physical activity was measured with accelerometers, and energy expenditure was measured with an indirect calorimeter. Energy expenditure was significantly greater than all other activities when children or adults played Nintendo Wii (mean increase over resting, 189 +/- 63 kcal/hr, P < .001, and 148 +/- 71 kcal/hr, P < .001, respectively). When examining movement with accelerometry, children moved significantly more than adults (55 +/- 5 arbitrary acceleration units and 23 +/- 2 arbitrary acceleration units, respectively, P < .001) while playing Nintendo Wii. Activity-promoting video games have the potential to increase movement and energy expenditure in children and adults.

The contribution of upper limb and total body movement to adolescents’ energy expenditure whilst playing Nintendo Wii

Little research documents the contribution of upper limb and total body movement to energy expenditure (EE) during active video gaming. To address this, EE, heart rate (HR), and, upper limb and total body movement were assessed in 11- to 17-year-old adolescents whilst playing three active (Nintendo Wii) and one sedentary (XBOX 360) video games. Non-dominant upper limb activity, EE and HR were significantly greater during Wii Sports boxing [mean 267.2 (SD 115.8) J kg(-1) min(-1); 136.7 (24.5) beats min(-1)] than tennis or bowling (P < or = 0.044). For all active games hip activity best predicted EE (R (2) > or = 0.53), with two-measure models of HR and single-site activity data, and multi-site activity data, similarly explaining the variance in EE (R (2) > or = 0.64). The physiological cost of upper-body orientated active video games increased when movement of both upper limbs was encouraged. Improvements in EE explanatory power provide support for multi-site activity monitoring during unique, non-ambulatory activities.

Energy Costs of Physically Active Video Gaming: Wii Boxing, Wii tennis, and Dance Dance Revolution

Excessive time spent in sedentary behaviors, such as playing video games, is a contributing factor to the ever increasing obesity rate in children. Recently several video gaming systems have become available, such as Nintendo Wii and Dance Dance Revolution, which require more physical activity in order to play the games than does traditional sedentary gaming. However, the energy expenditure while playing these physically active video games is not known. PURPOSE: To examine the energy cost of physically active video games compared to traditional sedentary gaming. METHODS: After obtaining informed consent from the parents and the children, 13 boys and 4 girls were assessed for body composition via DEXA, seated resting oxygen consumption (VO2), and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) during a graded treadmill exercise test. On another day the children played the active video games Wii Boxing (BOX), Wii Tennis (TEN), Dance Dance Revolution (DDR), and a sedentary auto racing video game (SED) for 15 minutes in a randomized order. Heart rate and oxygen consumption were measured continuously during game play. RESULTS: The participants were 11.06 ± 0.40 y (means ± se) and had 22.09 ± 2.06 % body fat. Resting VO2 was 3.42 ± 0.42 ml/kg/min and VO2max was 27.67 ± 2.89 ml/kg/min. Resting heart rate was 94.36 ± 2.28 beats/min and maximal heart rate was 186.71 ± 4.44 beats/min. The VO2 (ml/kg/min) during video gaming was 8.95 ± 1.06, 6.82 ± 1.07, 7.76 ± 1.19, and 3.30 ± 0.55 for BOX, TEN, DDR, and SED, respectively. Energy expenditure during video gaming was 262%, 200%, 227% and 97% of resting for BOX, TEN, DDR, and SED, respectively. The heart rate (beats/min) during video gaming was 128.94 ± 2.77, 116.88 ± 2.40, 121.59 ± 3.68, and 94.69 ± 2.55 for BOX, TEN, DDR, and SED, respectively. Conslusion: These data indicate that traditional sedentary video gaming does not differ from sitting at rest in terms of energy expenditure and that physically active video gaming requires more than twice as much energy expenditure as does traditional video gaming.

Energy Expenditure of Sedentary Screen Time Compared With Active Screen Time for Children

We examined the effect of activity-enhancing screen devices on children's energy expenditure compared with performing the same activities while seated. Our hypothesis was that energy expenditure would be significantly greater when children played activity-promoting video games, compared with sedentary video games. Energy expenditure was measured for 25 children aged 8 to 12 years, 15 of whom were lean, while they were watching television seated, playing a traditional video game seated, watching television while walking on a treadmill at 1.5 miles per hour, and playing activity-promoting video games. Watching television and playing video games while seated increased energy expenditure by 20 +/- 13% and 22 +/- 12% above resting values, respectively. When subjects were walking on the treadmill and watching television, energy expenditure increased by 138 +/- 40% over resting values. For the activity-promoting video games, energy expenditure increased by 108 +/- 40% with the EyeToy (Sony Computer Entertainment) and by 172 +/- 68% with Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix 2 (Konami Digital Entertainment). Energy expenditure more than doubles when sedentary screen time is converted to active screen time. Such interventions might be considered for obesity prevention and treatment.

Sex-Dependent Components of the Analgesia Produced by Athletic Competition

Abstract: Competing in various athletic events (track meet, basketball game, or fencing match) can produce analgesia to cold pressor stimuli in male and female college athletes compared with baseline assessments. This competition-induced analgesia has been attributed to the stress associated with competition, which has components related to both physical exercise and the cognitive aspects of competing. This study evaluated the analgesic effect of exercise-related stress, and that caused by the cognitively stressful components of competing independent of exercise. Cold pressor pain ratings were assessed after competition in a track meet and after treadmill exercise or sedentary video game competition in both athletes and nonathletes. As expected, competing in athletics resulted in a decrease in cold pressor ratings in both male and female athletes. Independent of athletic status, treadmill running induced analgesia in women, but not in males, whereas sedentary video game competition produced analgesia in men, but not in women. These findings suggest that different components of the competitive athletic experience might be responsible for the analgesic effects in a sex-dependent manner.