Effects of Interactive Video Game Cycling on Obese Adolescent Health

Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 4

Conditions: Obesity; Overweight With Comorbidity

Treatments: Behavioral: Interactive video game cycling; Behavioral: Cycling to Music

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00983970

CDA-GG-2-06-2106-GG

GA-2-06-2106-GG

Details and patient eligibility

About

Exercise is an important component in the treatment of of child obesity and associated medical conditions. However, one of the strongest predictors of non-compliance from exercise programs in obese youth is lack of enjoyment, thus creating a more pleasurable environment, by using TV or video games as incentives, may be an effective way of increasing exercise in obese youth. The purpose of this study was to compare interactive video game stationary cycling (GameBike ®) with cycling to music on aerobic fitness, body composition, cardiovascular disease risk markers, and exercise behaviour as measured by attendance, energy expenditure, duration, intensity and distance pedaled in obese adolescents. Twenty six obese adolescents had an equal chance of being assigned to either interactive video game cycling (n=13) or cycling to music serving as controls (n=13). The 10-week program consisted of twice weekly sessions lasting a maximum of 60 minutes per session.

Full description

Background: Energy expenditure through exercise is important for weight loss and reduction of medical morbidity associated with adolescent obesity. However, attrition from aerobic exercise programs is high in obese children as they do not tolerate it or enjoy it. Capitalizing on technology to use TV or video games as incentives to exercise may improve adherence to exercise and associated health benefits in obese adolescents.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of interactive video game stationary cycling (GameBike ®) with cycling to music on aerobic fitness, body composition, cardiovascular disease risk markers, and exercise behaviour as measured by attendance, energy expenditure, duration, intensity and distance pedaled in obese adolescents.

Method: Twenty six obese adolescents were stratified by gender and randomized to a either interactive video game cycling (n=13) or cycling to music serving as controls (n=13). The 10-week program consisted of twice weekly sessions lasting a maximum of 60 minutes per session.

Enrollment: 30 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 12 to 17 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• youth aged 12-17 years with BMI above 95th percentile for age and gender based on CDC growth chart data, OR
• BMI > 85th percentile for age and gender with one of the following:
• elevated fasting glucose or 2 hour OGTT (indicative of impaired glucose tolerance)
• elevated fasting triglycerides, LDL-C, reduced HDL-C
• total cholesterol/HDL-C ratio > 90th percentile
• elevated fasting insulin
• Blood pressure > 90th percentile
• 1st degree relative with Type II diabetes or cardiovascular disease
• Willingness to follow protocol and sign informed assent and consent

Exclusion criteria

• Did not have a medical condition that altered intestinal absorption
• Did not influence response to activity intervention or make vigorous exercise dangerous - such as
• type 1 diabetes mellitus
• inflammatory bowel disease,
• severe arthritis/asthma,
• congestive heart failure,
• pulmonary disease,
• systemic hypertension,
• acute renal disease
• other illness assessed by the study physician making participation inadvisable

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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30 participants in 2 patient groups

Interactive video cycling

Experimental group

Description:

Interactive video cycling arm utilized the Gamebike that interfaced a Sony Play Station 2 with a stationary bicycle and a 42 inch flat screen TV. The Gamebike has a handle bar mounted game controller allowing the participant to play most Sony Play Station 2 raced-based video games. The Gamebike reads the participants' speed by cycling cadence and the faster the individual pedalled, the faster they moved in the virtual world on screen. Participants were asked to come to the lab for two sessions per week for 60 minutes for 10 weeks.Participants were told that they could exercise at any intensity or duration that they desired, and reading materials were provided for those who did not chose to exercise for the full 60 minute session.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Interactive video game cycling

Cycling to Music

Active Comparator group

Description:

Each participant exercised twice weekly for 10 weeks on the Gamebike® but the games and controls were turned off. The Gamebike® was used by both groups to control for any differences between two cycle ergometers such as comfort or usability. However, participants were allowed to listen to music of their choice via radio, CD or personal music device.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Cycling to Music