Advertising Disclaimer
Published online July 13, 2009
PEDIATRICS Vol. 124 No. 2 August 2009, pp. 534-540 (doi:10.1542/peds.2008-2851)
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Web of Science (2)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Graf, D. L.
Right arrow Articles by Short, K. R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Graf, D. L.
Right arrow Articles by Short, K. R.
Related Collections
Right arrow Office Practice
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Facebook   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati   Add to Twitter  
What's this?

ARTICLE

Playing Active Video Games Increases Energy Expenditure in Children

Diana L. Graf, BSa, Lauren V. Pratt, MSb, Casey N. Hester, MDb, Kevin R. Short, PhDb

b Department of Pediatrics
a College of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City

OBJECTIVE: To compare energy expenditure rates in children playing the physically active video games, Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) and Nintendo's Wii Sports in relation to treadmill walking.

METHODS: Energy expenditure, heart rate, step rate, and perceived exertion were measured in 14 boys and 9 girls (ages 10–13 years; BMI at 3–98th percentile for age and gender) while watching television at rest, playing DDR at 2 skill levels, playing Wii bowling and boxing, and walking at 2.6, 4.2, and 5.7 km/h. Arterial elasticity was measured at rest and immediately after gaming.

RESULTS: Compared with watching television, energy expenditure while gaming or walking increased 2- to 3-fold. Similarly, high rates of energy expenditure, heart rate, and perceived exertion were elicited from playing Wii boxing, DDR level 2, or walking at 5.7 km/h. This occurred despite variations in step rate among activities, reflecting greater use of upper body during Wii play (lowest step rate) than during walking (highest step rate) or DDR play. Wii bowling and beginner level DDR elicited a 2-fold increase in energy expenditure compared to television watching. Large-artery elasticity declined immediately after both DDR and Wii. The change was inversely related to the increment in energy expenditure above rest achieved during the activity.

CONCLUSIONS: Energy expenditure during active video game play is comparable to moderate-intensity walking. Thus, for children who spend considerable time playing electronic screen games for entertainment, physically active games seem to be a safe, fun, and valuable means of promoting energy expenditure.

Key Words: indirect calorimetry • video games • physical activity

Abbreviations: DDR—Dance Dance Revolution • HR—heart rate • DDR1—DDR beginner level • DDR2—DDR basic level • RPE—rating of perceived exertion

Accepted Nov 25, 2008.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Facebook Facebook   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati   Add to Twitter Twitter    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Arch Pediatr Adolesc MedHome page
E. Biddiss and J. Irwin
Active Video Games to Promote Physical Activity in Children and Youth: A Systematic Review
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, July 1, 2010; 164(7): 664 - 672.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
A. J. Daley
Can Exergaming Contribute to Improving Physical Activity Levels and Health Outcomes in Children?
Pediatrics, August 1, 2009; 124(2): 763 - 771.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]