Home-Based Exergaming on Preschoolers’ Energy Expenditure, Cardiovascular Fitness, Body Mass Index and Cognitive Flexibility: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Purpose: The effects of exergaming-based physical activity (PA) interventions on preschoolers’ health outcomes and cognition remain largely unexplored. Therefore, we conducted a randomized controlled trial to discern the effectiveness of a home-based educational exergaming intervention on preschoolers’ energy expenditure, fitness, body mass index, and cognition. Methods: Participants were 32 preschoolers (16 girls; 59.4% Asian; Mage = 4.72, SD = ±0.73) recruited from the Twin Cities area in Minnesota. During baseline testing, we measured preschooler’s daily energy expenditure (EE), cardiovascular fitness, body mass index, and cognitive flexibility using validated instruments. Participants were then randomly assigned to one of two conditions: (1) the exergaming intervention condition; or (2) control condition. The intervention program requested children participate in home-based educational exergaming using the LeapTV gaming console for at least 30 min/session 5 times/week. The control condition asked children to maintain regular PA patterns without any exergaming gameplay. Each condition lasted 12 weeks. We conducted identical outcome assessments for all children at baseline and post-intervention. Results: Analysis of covariance with repeated measures yielded significant time x group interaction effects for cognitive flexibility, Wilks’ Lambda = 0.81, F(1, 29) = 6.98, p = 0.01, η2 = 0.19, suggesting children in the exergaming group demonstrated significantly greater increases in cognitive flexibility as compared to those in the control group over time. There were no significant differences for time x group changes between the two groups for EE, Wilks’ Lambda = 0.92, F(1, 29) = 2.29, p = 0.14, η2 = 0.08; cardiovascular fitness, Wilks’ Lambda = 0.96, F(1, 29) = 1.07, p = 0.31, η2 = 0.04; and BMI, Wilks’ Lambda = 0.99, F(1, 29) = 0.05, p = 0.82, η2 = 0.01. However, our data did suggest a marginal effect of time for EE, Wilks’ Lambda = 0.89, F(1, 29) = 3.26, p = 0.08, η2 = 0.08, indicating that children’s daily EE increased from baseline to post-intervention. Conclusions: Home-based educational exergaming may positively impact cognitive flexibility in preschoolers. Studies with larger sample sizes in multiple geographic locations are needed, with our study suggesting a longer intervention period might also be warranted.

A Systematic Review of Active Video Games on Youth’s Body Composition and Physical Activity

“…In detail, Staiano et al [33] indicated their 12-week AVG intervention significantly decreased adiposity in different regions as well as the total body. This research team [32] also observed decreases in percentage of fat of the leg, abdominal subcutaneous adiposity, and total adiposity for the AVG group after a 12-week dance-based intervention. Trost et al [35] observed that the AVG group exhibited a significantly greater reduction in percentage overweight and BMI over 16 weeks as compared to a control group.…”

“…Using a 10-item quality assessment tool (▶ table 1), risk of bias of each included study was independently rated by 2 reviewers (XS, NZ) to assess the quality of the included studies [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36]. For all studies, each item was rated as "positive" (i.e., the item was explicitly described and present) or "negative" (i.e., the item was inadequately described or absent).…”

“…Six RCTs examined the effects of AVGs on body composition among overweight and obese youth [17,[22][23][24][25][26]. Four reported positive effects of AVGs on youth's BMI [32,35] and body fat percentage as assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) [32,33]. In detail, Staiano et al [33] indicated their 12-week AVG intervention significantly decreased adiposity in different regions as well as the total body.…”

“…Trost et al reported children in the AVG group showed significant increases in MVPA at week 16 [35]. Another RCT found change in daily time spent playing AVGs at week 24 increased, indicating that AVG play may increase children's PA, thereby decreasing sedentary behavior [32]. Yet, Maloney et al observed a neutral effect of a 12-week AVG program on PA in adolescents [29].…”

Virtual Reality Exercise as a Coping Strategy for Health and Wellness Promotion in Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Non-immersive VR, on the other hand, offers users a computer-generated world which typically uses a desktop or projector [18]. Examples of non-immersive VR include the Nintendo Wii Switch and the Xbox 360 Kinect, which are often more cost-effective and better for use in the home setting compared to immersive VR equipment [22][23][24][25][26][27][28].…”