title: Couch potatoes to jumping beans: a pilot study of the effect of active video games on physical activity in children.
abstract: The primary objective of this pilot study was to evaluate the effect of active video games on children's physical activity levels.Twenty children (mean +/- SD age = 12 +/- 1.5 years; 40% female) were randomised to receive either an active video game upgrade package or to a control group (no intervention). Effects on physical activity over the 12-week intervention period were measured using objective (Actigraph accelerometer) and subjective (Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children [PAQ-C]) measures. An activity log was used to estimate time spent playing active and non-active video games.Children in the intervention group spent less mean time over the total 12-week intervention period playing all video games compared to those in the control group (54 versus 98 minutes/day [difference = -44 minutes/day, 95% CI [-92, 2]], p = 0.06). Average time spent in all physical activities measured with an accelerometer was higher in the active video game intervention group compared to the control group (difference at 6 weeks = 194 counts/min, p = 0.04, and at 12 weeks = 48 counts/min, p = 0.06).This preliminary study suggests that playing active video games on a regular basis may have positive effects on children's overall physical activity levels. Further research is needed to confirm if playing these games over a longer period of time could also have positive effects on children's body weight and body mass index.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ACTRN012606000018516.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Trials Research Unit, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. c.nimhurchu@ctru.auckland.ac.nz
authors.forename: Cliona
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ni Mhurchu
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maddison
authors.forename: Yannan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jull
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Prapavessis
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodgers