Active Video/Arcade Games (Exergaming) and Energy Expenditure in College Students.
Video games have become increasingly popular among young adults. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine if interactive video/arcade games, requiring physical activity to play, increase the energy expenditure (EE) and heart rate (HR) of young adults enough to elicit a training response. Thirteen male and female participants 26.6 ± 5.7 years of age were in the study. Participants were familiarized with equipment and allowed to practice with three games: (1) moving and striking lighted pads, (2) riding a bike to increase the pace of a race car, and (3) boxing against a video simulated opponent. A portable metabolic cart and HR monitor were attached to participants to measure baseline and exercise values. Participants could play any of the three games for 30 minutes while metabolic and HR data were collected. Exercise data were compared to baseline measures, and the 3 games were compared for EE. Paired sample t-tests showed baseline and exercise values differed for HR (t(12) = -18.91, p < 0.01), and EE (t(12) = -15.62, p < 0.01). The boxing game provided the highest VO2 (17.47 ± 4.79 ml·kg(·-1)min(-1)). Participants achieved 60% or better of their HR reserve (162.82 ± 10.78 beats·min(-1),) well within the ACSM guidelines for a training HR. Caloric expenditure during the 30-minute exercise session (226. 07 ± 48.68) is also within the ACSM recommendations for daily physical activity. Thus, interactive video/arcade games that require physical activity to play can be utilized as part of an overall aerobic exercise program.
Siegel
Shannon R
SR
Department of Kinesiology, California State University - San Bernardino, San Bernardino, CA, USA.
L Haddock
Bryan
B
Dubois
Andrea M
AM
Wilkin
Linda D
LD
Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2007 Aug;32(4):655-63
17622279
JAMA. 1998 Mar 25;279(12):938-42
9544768
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2007 Jul;161(7):684-9
17606832
Open Sports Sci J. 2009 Jan 1;2:42-46
19946380
BMJ. 2007 Dec 22;335(7633):1282-4
18156227
Pediatrics. 1985 May;75(5):807-12
3873060
World Health Organ Tech Rep Ser. 2000;894:i-xii, 1-253
11234459
J Adolesc. 2006 Jun;29(3):333-49
16246411
Int J Fit. 2008 Jul 1;4(2):17-23
24683297
NCHS Data Brief. 2007 Nov;(1):1-8
19389313
Int J Sports Med. 2002 Feb;23(2):125-9
11842360
Pediatrics. 2006 Dec;118(6):e1831-5
17142504
Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz. 2007 May-Jun;50(5-6):643-52
17514448
Int J Sports Med. 2006 Oct;27(10):804-9
17006803
Br J Sports Med. 2008 Jul;42(7):592-4
18606832
Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1993 Jan;25(1):71-80
8292105
Med Eng Phys. 2001 May;23(4):267-73
11427364
J Pediatr. 2008 Aug;153(2):209-14
18534231