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

Abstract

<div class="section"> <a class="named-anchor" id="S1"> <!-- named anchor --> </a> <h5 class="section-title" id="d173469e151">Background</h5> <p id="P1">Given children’s low levels of physical activity and high prevalence of obesity, there is an urgent need to identify innovative physical activity options. </p> </div><div class="section"> <a class="named-anchor" id="S2"> <!-- named anchor --> </a> <h5 class="section-title" id="d173469e156">Objective</h5> <p id="P2">To test the effectiveness of exergaming (video gaming that involves physical activity) to reduce children’s adiposity and improve cardiometabolic health. </p> </div><div class="section"> <a class="named-anchor" id="S3"> <!-- named anchor --> </a> <h5 class="section-title" id="d173469e161">Methods</h5> <p id="P3">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 hr/session, 3 times/week), and videochat 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 (DXA) and cardiometabolic health metrics. </p> </div><div class="section"> <a class="named-anchor" id="S4"> <!-- named anchor --> </a> <h5 class="section-title" id="d173469e166">Results</h5> <p id="P4">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 [SE]: −0.06 [0.03] vs. 0.03 [0.03], <i>p</i>=0.016) with a marginal difference in intent-to-treat analysis (−0.06 [0.03] vs. 0.02 [0.03], <i>p</i>=0.065). Compared to control, the intervention group improved systolic BP, diastolic BP, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and MVPA (all <i>p</i>-values &lt; 0.05). </p> </div><div class="section"> <a class="named-anchor" id="S5"> <!-- named anchor --> </a> <h5 class="section-title" id="d173469e180">Conclusions</h5> <p id="P5">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. </p> </div><div class="section"> <a class="named-anchor" id="S6"> <!-- named anchor --> </a> <h5 class="section-title" id="d173469e185">Trial registration</h5> <p id="P6"> <a data-untrusted="" href="http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/" id="d173469e189" target="xrefwindow">ClinicalTrials.gov</a>, NCT02560493 </p> </div>