Active video games boost Tweens energy expenditure

by Alisha Smith | Thursday, July 30, 2009

We’ve heard about the number of alleged ‘Wii’-related injuries in adults, but now scientists at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center are advocating the use of video games as an alternative to moderate exercise for sedentary children.

Researchers found that active gaming, such as Wii boxing or Wii bowling, caused children between the ages of 10 and 13 to burn up to three times the amount of calories that they would if they were watching TV. This energy expenditure has been compared to the energy cost of walking at a speed of approximately 5.6km/hr.

This recent study is in direct contrast to the 2007 British Medical Journal study which detailed that energy expenditure was only increased by 2 per cent per week, when comparing active versus sedentary gaming. Two per cent is a poor increase indeed when you consider that a 2003 study by the Australian Bureau of Statistics identified that more than 80 per cent of 5 to 14 year olds play an average of eight hours of video games in a typical fortnight.

While the inception of active gaming has attempted to provide a ‘safe, fun and valuable means of promoting energy expenditure’, it is still too small a step forward from sedentary gaming to prove a significant alternative to good old fashioned activity!

What are your thoughts? Is active gaming worthless in terms of energy expenditure, or is the tiny level of physical activity it provides still ‘better than nothing’?

UPDATE: Recent article in the Sydney Morning Herald talks about Wii type games as the Future of Fitness. Have a read here and voice your opinion! http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/games/game-on-the-future-of-fitness-20090803-e75v.html

Sources:
University of Oklahoma (2009, July 17). Active Video Games A Good Alternative To Moderate Exercise For Kids, Study Suggests. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 30, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com¬ /releases/2009/07/090716123318.htm

BMJ-British Medical Journal (2007, December 21). Active Computer Games No Substitute For Playing Real Sports. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 30, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com¬ /releases/2007/12/071220195643.htm

COMMENTS

Posted by: Williams Australia | 30-Jul-2009 07:21 PM |

I agree that something is better than nothing, but we are to blame for the culture we have created for our children. We allow them to watch TV as they wish, rather than spending the time with our kids doing outdoor activities, all because we are leading busier and busier lifestyles and it is easier to put the kids in front of the tele or on a video game so we can go about our business. There is nothing better than outdoor activities for our children's development and growth. In this day and age many of our children are missing a vital element of growth at a very young age, simply because mum & dad don't have the time for them... I totally agree that it is too small of a step for our younger generation.. How can we change this?? My organisation ( Succeed) in conjunction with the ACT Government are in the process of launching a new program that will hopefully go national in the future for our children ( thus taking care of the exercise for the kids). Only in its infancy we have already received amazing feedback from the centres and look forward to it growing at a rapid rate. This licence will be available to all trainers across Australia to implent in their area/suburb in the not too distant future. In the mean time I say any movement is better than NO movement.. Scott Williams Personal Training & Boot Camp Business Consultant CEO, Managing Director Succeed Personal Development - 2008 Aust PT Business of the Year www.succeed.com.au www.scottiewilliams.com

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