The health benefits of interactive video game exercise

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of interactive video games (combined with stationary cycling) on health-related physical fitness and exercise adherence in comparison with traditional aerobic training (stationary cycling alone). College-aged males were stratified (aerobic fitness and body mass) and then assigned randomly to experimental (n = 7) or control (n = 7) conditions. Program attendance, health-related physical fitness (including maximal aerobic power (VO2 max), body composition, muscular strength, muscular power, and flexibility), and resting blood pressure were measured before and after training (60%–75% heart rate reserve, 3 d/week for 30 min/d for 6 weeks). There was a significant difference in the attendance of the interactive video game and traditional training groups (78% ± 18% vs. 48% ± 29%, respectively). VO2 max was significantly increased after interactive video game (11% ± 5%) but not traditional (3% ± 6%) training. There was a significantly greater reduction in resting systolic blood pressure after interactive video game (132 ± 6 vs. 123 ± 6 mmHg) than traditional (131 ± 7 vs. 128 ± 8 mmHg) training. There were no significant changes in body composition after either training program. Attendance mediated the relationships between condition and changes in health outcomes (including VO2 max, vertical jump, and systolic blood pressure). The present investigation indicates that a training program that links interactive video games to cycle exercise results in greater improvements in health-related physical fitness than that seen after traditional cycle exercise training. It appears that greater attendance, and thus a higher volume of physical activity, is the mechanism for the differences in health-related physical fitness.

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What Physical Fitness Component Is Most Closely Associated With Adolescents' Blood Pressure?

Perceptual and Motor Skills ◽

10.1177/0031512517730414 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 124 (6) ◽

pp. 1107-1120 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Heloyse E. G. Nunes ◽

Carlos A. S. Alves ◽

Eliane C. A. Gonçalves ◽

Diego A. S. Silva

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Body Composition ◽

Muscle Strength ◽

Physical Fitness ◽

Systolic Blood Pressure ◽

Diastolic Blood Pressure ◽

Aerobic Fitness ◽

Pressure Control ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Digital Pressure

This study aimed to determine which of four selected physical fitness variables, would be most associated with blood pressure changes (systolic and diastolic) in a large sample of adolescents. This was a descriptive and cross-sectional, epidemiological study of 1,117 adolescents aged 14–19 years from southern Brazil. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured by a digital pressure device, and the selected physical fitness variables were body composition (body mass index), flexibility (sit-and-reach test), muscle strength/resistance (manual dynamometer), and aerobic fitness (Modified Canadian Aerobic Fitness Test). Simple and multiple linear regression analyses revealed that aerobic fitness and muscle strength/resistance best explained variations in systolic blood pressure for boys (17.3% and 7.4% of variance) and girls (7.4% of variance). Aerobic fitness, body composition, and muscle strength/resistance are all important indicators of blood pressure control, but aerobic fitness was a stronger predictor of systolic blood pressure in boys and of diastolic blood pressure in both sexes.

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Effects of interactive video game cycling on overweight and obese adolescent health

Applied Physiology Nutrition and Metabolism ◽

10.1139/h10-078 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 35 (6) ◽

pp. 805-815 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

Kristi B. Adamo ◽

Jane A. Rutherford ◽

Gary S. Goldfield

Keyword(s):

Body Composition ◽

Aerobic Fitness ◽

Video Game ◽

Interactive Video ◽

Disease Risk ◽

Obese Adolescent ◽

Obese Adolescents ◽

Metabolic Complication ◽

Vigorous Intensity ◽

Interactive Video Game

The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of interactive video game stationary cycling (GameBike) in comparison with stationary cycling to music on adherence, energy expenditure measures, submaximal aerobic fitness, body composition, and cardiovascular disease risk markers in overweight and obese adolescents, using a randomized controlled trial design. Thirty overweight (with at least 1 metabolic complication) or obese adolescents aged 12–17 years were stratified by gender and randomized to video game or music condition, with 4 participants (2 per group) failing to complete the twice weekly 60 min sessions of the 10-week trial. The music group had a higher rate of attendance compared with the video game group (92% vs. 86%, p < 0.05). Time spent in minutes per session at vigorous intensity (80%–100% of predicted peak heart rate) (24.9 ± 20 min vs. 13.7 ± 12.8 min, p < 0.05) and average distance (km) pedaled per session (12.5 ± 2.8 km vs. 10.2 ± 2.2 km, p < 0.05) also favoured the music group. However, both interventions produced significant improvements in submaximal indicators of aerobic fitness as measured by a graded cycle ergometer protocol. Also, when collapsed, the exercise modalities reduced body fat percentage and total cholesterol. The present study indicates that cycling to music was just as effective as stationary cycling while playing video games at improving fitness, body composition, and cholesterol profiles in overweight and obese teens, and resulted in increased attendance, vigorous intensity of physical activity, and distance pedaled. Therefore, our data support the superiority of cycling to music and indicate investing in the more expensive GameBike may not be worth the cost.

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Beauty in the Background

International Journal of Interactive Communication Systems and Technologies ◽

10.4018/ijicst.2012070104 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 49-62 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ashley D. Cox ◽

Cassie A. Eno ◽

Rosanna E. Guadagno

Keyword(s):

Video Games ◽

Video Game ◽

Social Learning Theory ◽

Interactive Video ◽

Female Characters ◽

Video Game Play ◽

Traditional Gender Roles ◽

Male Characters ◽

Content Analyses ◽

Interactive Video Game

This content analysis examined the representation of females in top selling console video games. Based on prior content analyses, the study hypothesized that female characters would be more likely to appear in supporting roles and would be represented as suggestively dressed with sexualized portions of their bodies exposed. It was predicted that female characters would be less likely to engage in violence relative to male characters. The results of the analysis of 538 characters from 48 interactive video game systems supported these predictions and suggest that video games portray stereotypic depictions of women consistent with traditional gender roles. The implications of these findings are presented in the context of social learning theory. Furthermore, the unique features of video game play that may heighten their socializing impact are discussed.

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