Active Videogames Against Obesity in Children (VIDEOACTIVO)

Active Video Games Against Obesity and Sedentarism in Children Between 9 and 11 Years Old: a Disruptive Proposal

Active video games are presented as an exercise option for children with little interest in traditional sports. The main objectives of this study are: To evaluate the effects of an active video game program on cardiometabolic risk in overweight/obese children to identify the effect of this intervention on physical fitness to study possible changes in the sedentary lifestyles of children after the exercise program. This is a randomized crossover study, with 2 intervention periods of 9 months each, and a 3-month period of washing. Ninetytwo children between 9 and 11 years old who are overweight or obese will be included and randomly assigned to one of the 2 homogeneous groups (control-intervention). Both groups will receive education in healthy lifestyles, and the intervention group will also follow a physical exercise program with active video games (3-4 days/week). The sessions will last between 30 and 45 minutes and will include different moderate-vigorous aerobic activities and muscular strength exercises. Body composition, physical fitness, levels of leptin, adiponectin and visfatin, lipid and ferric profiles, and markers of inflammation and metabolic risk such as insulin resistance, TNF-α, CRP, ALT, AST, gamma-GT and IL-6will be measured before and after the intervention. In addition, dietary habits (24h recalls), physical activity (accelerometers), blood pressure, waist and neck circumference, and pubertal development will be also assessed.

Childhood obesity is one of the main problems in developed societies, and entails enormous expenditure for the National Health System. In addition, childhood obesity is strongly associated with adult obesity and with all types of cardiovascular and metabolic pathologies. Physical exercise has been shown to be the great non-pharmacological enemy of both childhood and adult obesity, however sport practice and adherence to it is not easy in the overweight/obese population. In this context, active video games are presented as an exercise option for children with little interest in traditional sports. The main objectives of this study are: (1) To evaluate the effects of an active video game program on cardiometabolic risk in overweight/obese children; (2) to identify the effect of this intervention on physical fitness and (3) to study possible changes in the sedentary lifestyles of children after the exercise program. This is a randomized crossover study, with 2 intervention periods of 9 months each, and a 3-month period of washing. Ninetytwo children between 9 and 11 years old who are overweight or obese will be included and randomly assigned to one of the 2 homogeneous groups (control-intervention). Both groups will receive education in healthy lifestyles, and the intervention group will also follow a physical exercise program with active video games (3-4 days/week). The sessions will last between 30 and 45 minutes and will include different moderate-vigorous aerobic activities and muscular strength exercises. Body composition, physical fitness, levels of leptin, adiponectin and visfatin, lipid and ferric profiles, and markers of inflammation and metabolic risk such as insulin resistance, TNF-α, CRP, ALT, AST, gamma-GT and IL-6will be measured before and after the intervention. In addition, dietary habits (24h recalls), physical activity (accelerometers), blood pressure, waist and neck circumference, and pubertal development will be also assessed.

Obesity, Sedentary Lifestyle, Physical Activity, Childhood Obesity, Exergames, Body Composition, Physical Fitness, Cardiometabolic Risk

exergaming exercise: A combination of traditional exercise and exercise through active video games performed 3 days a week for one hour during 7 months. As well, it will be including some session about nutritional advice.

no physical intevention will be provided, but it will be included some sessions on nutritional advice.

Fat mass is measured by dual X-ray photon absorptiometry (DXA) using the software and pediatric reference values (Hologic Explorer, Hologic Corp., Software Latest Version, Waltham, MA).

Change in size during 6 months evaluated by a height rod to the nearest 0.1 cm (SECA 225, SECA, Hamburg, Germany).

Change in size during 6 months evaluated by a 0.1 kg precision bascule (SECA 861, SECA, Hamburg, Germany)

Change in waist and hip circumference during 6 months evaluated by an anthropometric tape following the ISAK protocol.

The waist and hip circumference are measured following the ISAK protocol and measurement technique with an anthropometric tape (Holtain).

Jump is measured by calculating flight height during countermoving jumps (CMJ) with a Kistler force platform.

Maximum manual pressure force measured by a manual dynamometry is performed with a Takei-Grip dynamometer (Espana-Romero, 2010) from 5 to 100 kg adjusting the grip to the optimal measure to develop the greatest strength as described for boys and girls

The isometric maximum force of quadriceps extension is evaluated by means of a strain gage anchored firmly to the wall and connected to a specific interface (MuscleLab); the force exerted by the subject for 10 seconds is measured and the maximum peak force is recorded.

Change in cardiorespiratory fitness during 6 months evaluated by a continuous progressive stress test

To assess cardiorespiratory resistance, a continuous progressive test will be carried out until exhaustion, with electrocardiographic control and breath-by-breath gas analysis to measure VO2max by a maximum test with gas analyzer (Oxycon Pro, Jaeger / Viasys, Germany).

Accelerometer measures diferent intensities of physical activity during 1 week before and after the training with videogames

Inclusion Criteria: children with obesity and overweight children with ages between 9-11 years old children in tanner stage I ó II Exclusion Criteria: to take drugs that can affect the measurements menarche in girls contraindications or pathologies associated with exercise regular attendance at extracurricular activities of high energy expenditure diet

Comeras-Chueca C, Villalba-Heredia L, Perez-Lasierra JL, Lozano-Berges G, Matute-Llorente A, Vicente-Rodriguez G, Casajus JA, Gonzalez-Aguero A. Effect of an Active Video Game Intervention Combined With Multicomponent Exercise for Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Children With Overweight and Obesity: Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Serious Games. 2022 May 24;10(2):e33782. doi: 10.2196/33782.