According to a new study, active video games may help children, particularly girls, increase their physical activity levels. According to the findings, the majority of teens who play active video games do so at moderate or vigorous intensity levels, allowing them to meet the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity on most days. Exergames, according to researchers, may also help at-risk young people get moving.
Working out isn’t known for being enjoyable. New active video and virtual reality games, however, may help to change that. According to new research, exergaming, or active video gaming, may be the ideal introduction to encouraging people to be more active. According to new research from the University of Georgia, exergaming, or active video gaming, may be the ideal introduction to encouraging people to be more active.
Almost anyone can find an exergame that interests them. Some of the more popular exergames include Dance Dance Revolution, EA Sports Active, and Beat Saber. Most gaming consoles, such as Xbox and Nintendo, have active gaming options. Furthermore, previous research has shown that exergaming can have physical benefits, especially when it replaces traditional sedentary video gaming. Exogamous reported high levels of satisfaction and autonomy over their exercise regimen, according to this study.
When an individual feels autonomous, they’re more likely to exercise or exergame on their own. They feel ownership over what they are doing, and they’re doing it for themselves, so it’s more likely they will keep up the activity.
Sami Yli-Piipari
“When an individual feels autonomous, they’re more likely to exercise or exergame on their own,” said Sami Yli-Piipari, co-author of the study and an associate professor in the Department of Kinesiology in the Mary Frances Early College of Education. “They feel ownership over what they are doing, and they’re doing it for themselves, so it’s more likely they will keep up the activity.”
Traditional forms of exercise, such as weightlifting or running, do not appeal to everyone. They may be open to active video gaming, however, because it does not appear to be exercise. It’s just for fun. That desire to play, according to Yongju Hwang, corresponding author of the study and doctoral student in kinesiology, may help people dip their toes in physical activity without the pressures or boredom that can come with going to the gym.
Exergaming can serve as introduction to increased physical activity
The study, which was published in the International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, followed 55 people whose daily physical activity was less than the recommended 150 minutes per week. For six weeks, participants were randomly assigned to either an exergame or traditional aerobics classes three times a week. During the study, exergamers could choose from a variety of games such as Just Dance, Kinect Sports, and Zumba Fitness World Party.
The accelerometers, heart rate monitors, and a scale that measures how hard participants believed they were working out were used to measure physical activity and exertion during the exercise sessions. The researchers also used a variety of scales to assess participants’ enjoyment of their workouts as well as their motivation to exercise.
The individuals assigned to the traditional classes worked out harder than their counterparts in the exergaming group. The supportive group environment of these types of classes has been shown to encourage people to give their all and holds them accountable for showing up.
“That makes sense because you probably will push yourself harder if somebody is looking over your shoulder rather than playing a game alone,” Yli-Piipari said.
But the exergamers had a better time. And that, coupled with a sense of ownership over their exercise routine, makes it more likely that they’ll keep it up and possibly be more open to other physical activity in the future.
“I see exergaming and technology-enhanced exercise as a stepping stone,” Yli-Piipari said. “It’s the first step in the right direction, especially for people who are not involved in any kind of exercise.”
Use video games to decrease sedentary time
However, active video games and their positive health effects are not limited to adults. Exergames are also a simple way for parents to increase their children’s physical activity, according to the researchers.
“When purchasing games for your children or yourself, try to purchase games with some activity in them,” Yli-Piipari advised. “If you force your children to be active, they may do so simply because you tell them to. However, the chances of them remaining active when you turn your back are slim.”
Playing video games does not feel like exercise to many children and adults. “We forget sometimes how difficult it is for inactive people to take that first step,” Yli-Piipari explained. “These games may be able to address that problem.”
