Energy Expenditure and Intensity of Active Video Games in Children and Adolescents.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the energy expenditure and intensity of active video games to that of treadmill walking in children and adolescents. METHOD: Seventy-two boys and girls (aged 8-13 years) were recruited from local public schools. Energy expenditure and heart rate were measured during rest, during 3-km/hr, 4-km/hr, and 5-km/hr walks, and during active games (Adventure, Boxing I, Boxing II, and Dance). During walking and active games, we also assessed physical activity using an accelerometer. RESULTS: The energy expenditure of the active games Adventure, Boxing I, Boxing II, and Dance was similar to that of treadmill walking at 5 km/hr in boys and girls. Heart rate was significantly higher for the game Adventure compared with walking at 3 km/hr, 4 km/hr, and 5 km/hr and the game Dance in both genders. The heart rate of girls during the games Adventure and Dance was significantly higher compared with boys. There was a statistically significant difference (p < .05, with an effect size ranging from 0.40 to 3.54) in the counts·min-1, measured through accelerometry, between activities. CONCLUSION: XBOX 360 Kinect games provide energy expenditure and physical activity of moderate intensity for both genders. The use of active video games can be an interesting alternative to increase physical activity levels.

Benefits and relationship of steps walked per day to cardiometabolic risk factor in Brazilian middle-aged men.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the benefits and relationship of the number of steps per day to the cardiometabolic risk factors: adiposity indicators; insulin resistance; and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in apparently healthy Brazilian middle-aged men. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. METHODS: Apparently healthy men (age: 50 ± 5 years; n=299) were studied. The number of steps per day was measured by pedometer. The adiposity indicators (waist circumference, total body fat, android and gynoid body fat), serum insulin, glucose and triglycerides, triglycerides/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) ratio, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and MetS were assessed. Subjects were placed in groups to reflect different levels of steps per day (average of 7 consecutive days): Group 1<10,000 and Group 2 ≥ 10,000. Relationships among variables were measured by multiple linear regressions and the Spearman correlation coefficient as appropriate (p<0.05). RESULTS: The cardiometabolic risk factors were lower (p<0.05) in Group 2 than in Group 1. The number of steps per day was a negative predictive factor for total body fat, android and gynoid body fat and HOMA-IR independent of age, working position, android fat, overweight/obesity prevalence, and triglycerides/HDL-c ratio. Moreover, there was a negative correlation between the number of steps and total body fat, android and gynoid body fat, HOMA-IR and MetS. CONCLUSIONS: Brazilian middle-aged men performing more than 10,000 steps per day have better cardiometabolic conditions than those walking fewer than 10,000 steps. The number of steps per day is inversely related to the indicators of total and regional adiposity, insulin resistance and MetS.