Reflecting public health interest in the potential of exergames to encourage PA , many review s of this literature have appeared.18 - 20 Some review s have been sympathetic,21,22 whereas others have been critical.23,24 A reasonably balanced assessment revealed that , in research laboratories , exergames could provide an intense workout that included moderate-to-vigorous PA  , but under less-supervised circumstances , children tended not to get much activity18 and their interest in the activity waned over 1 week or less .
Video games , the most commonly enjoyed medium by this generation of children , generates more money than Hollywood productions .
Forty percent of these studies influenced obesity or obesogenic behavior in the desired directions.12 A roundtable discussion of investigators of G4H and obesity indicated substantial potential for video games to reduce child obesity , but emphasized the need for games to be fun , not just health promoting.13 Some of the obesity-related studies used games specially design ed to target diet and /or PA change outside the games.14 - 17 " Squire 's Quest ! , "
Exergaming for Health
Objective . To evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of a multifaceted , community-based weight intervention program for children using exergaming technology ( activity-promoting video gaming ) .  Design and Methods . This is a prospect i ve observational pilot study . Forty-eight children , between the ages of 8 and 16 years , who are overweight or obese , enrolled in Exergaming for Health , a multidisciplinary weight management program , which used active video gaming . Primary outcome measures were change in body mass index ( BMI ) z scores . Results . Most children ( n = 40 , 83 % ) completed the program and participated in outcome evaluations . The average BMI change was −0.48 kg/m2 ( SD = 0.93 ) , P < .002 ( BMI z-score change was −0.072 , SD = 0.14 , P < .0001 ) . The average Global Self-Worth score improved , screen time and soda intake reduced , and exercise hours per week increased . Conclusions . The Exergaming for Health program may be an effective weight management intervention that is feasible with high participation rates . A larger r and omized controlled trial is needed to confirm these results
Reflecting public health interest in the potential of exergames to encourage PA , many review s of this literature have appeared.18 - 20 Some review s have been sympathetic,21,22 whereas others have been critical.23,24 A reasonably balanced assessment revealed that , in research laboratories , exergames could provide an intense workout that included moderate-to-vigorous PA  , but under less-supervised circumstances , children tended not to get much activity18 and their interest in the activity waned over 1 week or less .
Video games , the most commonly enjoyed medium by this generation of children , generates more money than Hollywood productions .
Forty percent of these studies influenced obesity or obesogenic behavior in the desired directions.12 A roundtable discussion of investigators of G4H and obesity indicated substantial potential for video games to reduce child obesity , but emphasized the need for games to be fun , not just health promoting.13 Some of the obesity-related studies used games specially design ed to target diet and /or PA change outside the games.14 - 17 " Squire 's Quest ! , "