Burning Calories with Exergames

Researchers have found that children using the active video games or exergames can burn as much as three times more calories per minute than when they are at rest.

Such an energy expenditure is similar to walking 3.0 to 4.0 miles per hour on a treadmill. In one study, 10-year-old participants were giving free access to exergames for 30 minutes and were allowed to rest at their own discretion. Children had access to several active games including, Jackie Chan Studio Fitness, Jackie Chan Action Run, Vigours Step, Step Lively, Dash and Reaction Time.

Participants burned an average of 119.47 Kcals, with the highest energy exertion at 205.86 Kcals, during this 30-minute interval.

Calorie Expenditure During Use of Active Games

caloric_exp

Resource

Haddock, B., Brandt, A., Siegel, S., Wilkin, L., Han,J. (2008). Active video games and energy expenditure among the overweight children. I.J. Fitness. 4.3: 17-24.

Quick Tips

Dance Games for Larger Audience

If you want to use dance games, like DDR, for larger audiences (more than 2 people), try using two dance pads hooked up to your game system, and practice pads set up behind them for the rest of your group to practice while they wait their turn on the main pads. To give them more incentive to use the pads, let them know that only those practicing will get to use the big pads.

More tips...

About Us

The Exergame Unlocked project includes a multi-state team of accomplished media education researchers, exercise physiologists, medical professionals and doctoral students. Contributing members are researchers in their fields and have helped launch the use of exergames as tools to combat obesity in their communities and beyond.

New Mexico State University researchers and their partners have been funded to research the impact of exergames, develop and implement specific recommendations for exergame use. As part of that project, this website provides access to resources based on research, sample projects, and input from the exergaming community.

For more information, contact the project director:
Dr. Barbara Chamberlin Associate Professor, New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service 575-646-2848

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