The results are published in the journal Paediatrics.
The researchers studied children ages 10 to 13 while they watched television, played active video games, and walked on the treadmill at various speeds. They measured the children’s heart rate, energy expenditure, and perceived exertion. Both playing games and walking on the treadmill increased energy expenditure, heart rate, and self-reported exertion. Not surprisingly, the amount of calories burned doing each activity was double that of not playing or walking. The games played included Wii boxing and Dance Dance Revolution Level 2, Wii Bowling, and the treadmill speed was 3.5 mph. Wii Bowling and Dance Dance Revolution resulted in a two-fold increase in energy expenditure, compared to just watching television. The researchers concluded that the energy expended during video game play was comparable to that of walking at a moderate intensity.
“These exer-games are no substitute for ‘real’ sports activities, but if kids play them as designed and stay engaged, they can burn several calories per hour above their sedentary level. We view any increase in energy expenditure (calories burned) as a good thing, especially in our overly-sedentary society,” said Kevin Short, Ph.D., principal investigator on the project.
Another study published in the journal Pediatrics showed beneficial effects on obesity from playing active video games. The researchers studied the energy expenditure for both lean and obese children when they participated in various activities, including a dance video game and walking on a treadmill. The found that energy expenditure was increased for both lean and obese children, but calorie expenditure was much higher for the obese children.
"We know if kids play video games that require movement, they burn more energy than they would while sitting and playing traditional screen games. That's pretty obvious even without our data," says Lorraine Lanningham-Foster, Ph.D., Mayo obesity researcher and study leader. "The point is that children -- very focused on screen games -- can be made healthier if activity is a required part of the game."
