Published online December 1, 2006
PEDIATRICS Vol. 118 No. 6 December 2006, pp. e1831-e1835 (doi:10.1542/peds.2006-1087)
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ARTICLE

Energy Expenditure of Sedentary Screen Time Compared With Active Screen Time for Children

Lorraine Lanningham-Foster, PhDa, Teresa B. Jensen, MDb, Randal C. Foster, BSa, Aoife B. Redmond, MBBChb, Brian A. Walker, DOb, Dieter Heinz, MDb and James A. Levine, MD, PhDa

a Endocrine Research Unit
b Department of Family Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota

OBJECTIVE. We examined the effect of activity-enhancing screen devices on children's energy expenditure compared with performing the same activities while seated. Our hypothesis was that energy expenditure would be significantly greater when children played activity-promoting video games, compared with sedentary video games.

METHODS. Energy expenditure was measured for 25 children aged 8 to 12 years, 15 of whom were lean, while they were watching television seated, playing a traditional video game seated, watching television while walking on a treadmill at 1.5 miles per hour, and playing activity-promoting video games.

RESULTS. Watching television and playing video games while seated increased energy expenditure by 20 ± 13% and 22 ± 12% above resting values, respectively. When subjects were walking on the treadmill and watching television, energy expenditure increased by 138 ± 40% over resting values. For the activity-promoting video games, energy expenditure increased by 108 ± 40% with the EyeToy (Sony Computer Entertainment) and by 172 ± 68% with Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix 2 (Konami Digital Entertainment).

CONCLUSIONS. Energy expenditure more than doubles when sedentary screen time is converted to active screen time. Such interventions might be considered for obesity prevention and treatment.

Key Words: physical activity • obesity • indirect calorimetry • television • video games

Abbreviations: REE—resting energy expenditure

Accepted Jul 13, 2006.




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