title: The energy cost of playing active video games in children with obesity and children of a healthy weight.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Increasing physical activity and reducing sedentary behaviour form a large part of the treatment of paediatric obesity. However, many children today spend prolonged periods of time playing sedentary video games. Active video games (AVGs) represent a novel and child friendly form of physical activity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To measure the energy cost of playing two AVGs in children with obesity and healthy age- and gender-matched children.
  
  
  METHODS
  The energy cost of gaming and heart rates achieved during gaming conditions were compared between groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AVG play can result in light-to-moderate intensity physical activity (2.7-5.4 metabolic equivalents). When corrected for fat-free mass those with obesity expended significantly less energy than healthy weight peers playing Nintendo Wii Fit Free Jogging (P = 0.017). No significant difference was seen between groups in the energy cost of playing Boxing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Certain AVGs, particularly those that require lower limb movement, could be used to increase total energy expenditure, replace more sedentary activities, or achieve moderate intensity physical activity among children with obesity. There seems to be some differences in how children with obesity and children of a healthy weight play AVGs. This could result in those with obesity expending less energy than their lean peers during AVG play.
authors: Discipline of Physiotherapy, School of Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: O'Donovan
authors: E F
authors: EF
authors: Roche
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Hussey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010809:Physical Fitness; D010988:Play and Playthings; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018910:Video Games
keywords: Active video games; energy expenditure; moderate exercise