Children with active video games don't exercise more
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 5:13 PM
A new US-based study has revealed that children who have access to active video games do not exercise more than those who play traditional joypad-controlled games.
Researchers at the USDA Agriculture Research Service Children's Nutrition Research Centre at Baylor College of Medicine followed 78 children between 9 and 12 years of age who had been given a Nintendo Wii console.
Half were given games that promote physical activity and half were given inactive ones.
The scientists then used accelerometers to measure physical activity at weeks one, six, seven and 12 but found no difference in physical activity levels between the two groups.
"It's not clear whether those in the study group were more active as a result of the video games but compensated by being less active later in the day," said professor of paediatrics at Baylor, Dr Tom Baranowski.
Previous studies have focused on whether the Wii can benefit those with dementia.