The Influence of Active Gaming on Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Black and Hispanic Youth.
Rachel M Flynn, Amanda E Staiano, Robbie Beyl and 3 others
PMID 30203482WHAT IT FOUND
Adolescents in a summer camp playing Wii Fit for 30 minutes weekly for six weeks showed increased sit-ups, step-ups, and self-efficacy.
However, without a control group, it is impossible to know if the games caused these changes or if natural growth or other camp activities did.
Key findings
01Participants significantly increased their number of sit-ups and step-ups after the intervention.
02Self-efficacy, intention to exercise, and perceived social support all significantly improved.
03The study had no control group, so improvements cannot be confidently attributed to the active video games rather than other factors like natural growth or summer camp participation.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
There was no control or comparison group, so it is impossible to determine if the observed improvements were due to the Wii Fit intervention, natural growth, or other activities during the summer camp. The study did not measure energy expenditure directly (e.g., via accelerometers or heart rate monitors), so the actual intensity of the physical activity is unknown. Data on ethnicity was missing for 40% of participants and thus excluded from analyses, limiting understanding of how results might differ across subgroups. The study was a feasibility trial with a short duration (6 weeks) and no long-term follow-up to see if benefits or engagement were sustained.
Declared interests
The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health (N.I.H., Extramural). No other specific conflicts of interest were declared in the text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that Wii Fit causes fitness improvements in adolescents. The study had no control group, so the increases in sit-ups and step-ups could be due to normal growth or other summer camp activities rather than the games themselves.