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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2018 Nov;13(11):724-733.
doi: 10.1111/ijpo.12438. Epub 2018 Jul 20.

Home-based exergaming among children with overweight and obesity: a randomized clinical trial

A E Staiano  1 , R A Beyl  1 , W Guan  1 , C A Hendrick  1 , D S Hsia  1 , R L Newton Jr  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Home-based exergaming among children with overweight and obesity: a randomized clinical trial

A E Staiano et al. Pediatr Obes. 2018 Nov.

Abstract

Background: Given children's low levels of physical activity and high prevalence of obesity, there is an urgent need to identify innovative physical activity options.

Objective: This study aims to test the effectiveness of exergaming (video gaming that involves physical activity) to reduce children's adiposity and improve cardiometabolic health.

Methods: This randomized controlled trial assigned 46 children with overweight/obesity to a 24-week exergaming or control condition. Intervention participants were provided a gaming console with exergames, a gameplay curriculum (1 h per session, three times a week) and video chat sessions with a fitness coach (telehealth coaching). Control participants were provided the exergames following final clinic visit. The primary outcome was body mass index (BMI) z-score. Secondary outcomes were fat mass by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and cardiometabolic health metrics.

Results: Half of the participants were girls, and 57% were African-American. Intervention adherence was 94.4%, and children's ratings of acceptability and enjoyment were high. The intervention group significantly reduced BMI z-score excluding one control outlier (intervention [standard error] vs. control [standard error]: -0.06 [0.03] vs. 0.03 [0.03], p = 0.016) with a marginal difference in intent-to-treat analysis (-0.06 [0.03] vs. 0.02 [0.03], p = 0.065). Compared with control, the intervention group improved systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (all p values <0.05).

Conclusions: Exergaming at home elicited high adherence and improved children's BMI z-score, cardiometabolic health and physical activity levels. Exergaming with social support may be promoted as an exercise option for children.

Keywords: African-Americans; coaching; technology; weight loss.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: The authors have indicated they have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose. AES wrote the first draft of the manuscript. There was no honorarium, grant, or other form of payment to anyone to produce the manuscript.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
CONSORT Participant Flow for the GameSquad Trial.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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