Ann Pediatr Endocrinol Metab.  2022 Jun;27(2):98-104. 10.6065/apem.2244036.018.

Effectiveness of active video games in overweight and obese adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

• Erçelik ZE
• Çağlar S

• KMID: 2531273
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.6065/apem.2244036.018

Abstract

Purpose
The purpose of this review was to assess the effect of active video games among overweight and obese adolescents.
Methods
A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted using records from the English-language electronic databases MEDLINE, the Web of Science, and PubMed. These databases were searched from January 2010 to December 2020 using the keywords (adolescent*) AND (overweight OR obese *) AND (active video games OR exergaming * OR video game*).
Results
Five articles met the inclusion criteria. Four studies were conducted in the United States of America and 1 study was conducted in Canada. In addition, all included articles had a randomized controlled trial study design. It was determined that the sample size of the studies was 30–46 participants and there were a total of 195 overweight and obese adolescents across the included studies. Active video gaming was negatively associated with changes in body mass index percentile (mean difference [MD], -1.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], -2.55 to -0.99; p<0.001) and total cholesterol (MD, -11.16; 95% CI, -16.64 to -5.68; p<0.001).
Conclusion
Playing active video games can reduce both the body mass index percentile and total cholesterol in overweight and obese adolescents. Active video games can provide a different method for combating childhood obesity. High-quality randomized controlled trials are recommended to assess the impact of game-based interventions.

Keyword

Adolescent; Overweight; Obesity; Video games; Body mass index; Percentile

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Risk of bias of 5 studies according to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions (“+” means low risk; “−” means high risk; “?” means unclear risk).

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  Fig. 2. PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis) flow diagram of the search process. RCT, randomized controlled trial.

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  Fig. 3. Meta-analysis and forest plots for the effect of active video games in overweight and obese adolescents. (A) Body mass index (BMI) percentile. (B) BMI z-score. (C) Total cholesterol. (D) Bone mineral density. SD, standard deviation; CI, confidence interval; df, degrees of freedom.

Reference

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