Over the past several years, “gaming” has entered the fitness arena, with new technology allowing participants to “move” and become “active” while playing their games. With the growing obesity epidemic, and the billion-dollar weight-loss industry as motivation, video game companies have marketed their technology to parents who are worried about their children becoming obese (while they play video games) and to a generation of “gamers” who will have the ability to exercise while in their “comfort zone” in front of their television and game system. I have had several graduate students interested in whether video game systems can help to increase fitness. Of the projects we have completed, here is a short summary of the results.
1. Exercise Adherence: Will an individual be more likely to adhere to an exercise program with a virtual trainer or a to a face-to-face, personal trainer?
Answer: Yes. In two studies, one using the kinect and a virtual trainer andone using the wii fit, we found no significant difference between traditional training days missed in the gym, days missed with the virtual trainer, and days missed using an at-home exercise plan. Days missed were measured over a 3-month period. The accountability of logging exercise in an app on their phone was another variable tested, and it had a positive affect on adherence.
2. Caloric expenditure: Over the course of a typical exercise session, are more calories burned in the gym with a trainer or using a virtual trainer for a workout (if the exercises, intensity, duration are kept constant)?
Answer: This question may seem obvious, but we conducted this study to measure “calories” due to concern about the technology interfering with rest/work ratio. It seemed that there was increased rest time due to having to “set-up” each exercise on the wii or kinect. The results indicated that there was no significant difference in estimated calories burned, based on heart rates achieved and time maintained.
3. Enjoyment: Does an individual enjoy the virtual trainer more than a real-life trainer?
Answer: Subjects reported enjoyment in using the virtual trainer and the real trainer, and although slightly more preferred their “real” trainer, no significant difference was observed.
4. Convenience: Which method is most convenient?
Answer: Almost every person in the study enjoyed the convenience of the virtual trainer. Only individuals in the age group classified as 55 and above reported more convenience with the “real” trainer and exercise program. We attributed this to the fact that these individuals were attending group exercise prior to the study. They also reported little experience with gaming systems.
5. Playing games vs. Traditional Exercise: Are individuals actually exercising or are they “playing games” that do not burn calories?
Answer: A large majority of person’s using the wii fit logged more time playing “games.” Not all of these games burned substantial calories.
6. Caloric prediction: Is the “calories burned” accurately portrayed by games?
Answer: None of the ten games in this study accurately predicted caloricexpenditure. Caloric expenditure was based off of weight and height, and no heart rate measurement was taken. Almost all of the prediction equations were OVER-PREDICTING caloric expenditure! This is a HUGE problem! If people think they are burning more calories than they are, then they will not lose weight! They may eat more calories than needed!
7. Injuries: Are the virtual trainers promoting exercises that may injure people due to lack of knowledge?
Answer: This was noted during our investigations. A large percentage ofgames are not adhering to ACSM or NSCA standard’s and guidelines when prescribing exercise. Several games also performed exercises that are considered unsafe by the ACSM.
8. Fitness: Do these games really improve components of fitness?
Answer: This is the most important question. Do the games work? Yes they do. If you increase activity and actually DO something, you will burn calories. Any method if increasing activity will have a positive impact on your health. Finding something you will adhere to, and that you enjoy is key! I always say, whatever you do- do something! That’s what matters! Gimmicks do not work! Effort, enjoyment, and seeing improvement are all ingredients to the formula of improved health.
Kelly A. Brooks, Ph.D., HFS, CSCS*D, EPC
Twitter: @kabrooks17
I have often wondered about the accuracy and effectiveness of exercise-game videos in regards to getting the individual playing the game to move and the results provided by the system.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I read above, there are two questions that concern me: 1) the over estimated caloric expenditure - if these systems are not producing near-accurate results then these expensive programs are contradicting themselves and 2) while these gaming systems get a person moving, the individual is still within the confinements of a home (most likely their home) and in contact/communication with a TV screen and not an actual human being. This lack in social-time and human communication will "work" the brain in a different manner on both a conscious and physical level. It is important for an individual to have some form of human contact when exercising - it is in our human nature to live and be around other humans, especially when it come to performing an action ultimately meant for survival.