title: Video game-based exercise, Latino children's physical health, and academic achievement.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a paucity of research investigating the effects of innovative physical activity programs on physical health and academic performance in the Latino population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the impact of Dance Dance Revolution [DDR]-based exercise on Latino children's physical fitness and academic achievement.
  
  
  METHODS
  A repeated-measures crossover design was used. In Year 1, Grade-4 students were assigned to the intervention group and offered 30 minutes of exercise (DDR, aerobic dance) three times per week. Grade-3 and Grade-5 students made up the comparison group and were offered no structured exercise at school. In Year 2, the Grade-4 students were again assigned to the intervention, whereas Grade-5 and Grade-6 students were in the comparison group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Assessments were conducted with 208 Latino school children.
  
  
  METHODS
  The baseline measures included time to complete a 1-mile run, BMI, and reading and math scores. Data were collected again 9 months later. Overall, data were collected in 2009-2011 and analyzed in 2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data yielded significant differences between the intervention and comparison groups in differences in 1-mile run and math scores in Year 1 and Year 2. The results also revealed net differences in the intervention versus comparison group scores on the 1-mile run for Grade 3 (p<0.01). Additionally, children's yearly pre-test and post-test BMI group changes differed (χ(2)((2)) = 6.6, p<0.05) only for the first year of intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The DDR-based exercise intervention improved children's cardiorespiratory endurance and math scores over time. Professionals should consider integrating exergaming at schools to achieve the goals of promoting a physically active lifestyle and enhancing academic success among Latino children.
authors: School of Kinesiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA. gaoz@umn.edu
authors: Zan
authors: Z
authors: Gao
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Hannan
authors: Ping
authors: P
authors: Xiang
authors: David F
authors: DF
authors: Stodden
authors: Verónica E
authors: VE
authors: Valdez
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010809:Physical Fitness; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D018910:Video Games