A pilot crossover study: effects of an intervention using an activity monitor with computerized game functions on physical activity and body composition

• Published in: Journal of physiological anthropology 2014-12, Vol.33 (1), p.35-35, Article 35
• Main Authors: Nishiwaki, Masato, Kuriyama, Akinori, Ikegami, Yumi, Nakashima, Nana, Matsumoto, Naoyuki
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Analysis; Body Fat Distribution; Body Mass Index; Body Weight - physiology; Cross-Over Studies; Exercise; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Monitoring, Ambulatory; Motor Activity - physiology; Original; Physiological aspects; Pilot Projects; Technology application; Video Games; Weight loss; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1880-6805; 1880-6791; 1880-6805
• DOI: 10.1186/1880-6805-33-35

Wearing an activity monitor as a motivational tool and incorporating a behavior-based reward system or a computerized game element might have a synergistic effect on an increase in daily physical activity, thereby inducing body fat reduction. This pilot crossover study aimed to examine the effects of a short-term lifestyle intervention using an activity monitor with computerized game functions on physical activity and body composition. Twenty healthy volunteers (31 ± 3 years) participated in a 12-week crossover study. The participants were randomly assigned to either Group A (a 6-week game intervention followed by a 6-week normal intervention) or Group B (a 6-week normal intervention followed by a 6-week game intervention). The participants wore both a normal activity monitor (Lifecorder EX) and an activity monitor with computerized game functions (Yuuhokei) during the game intervention, whereas they only wore a normal activity monitor during the normal intervention. Before, during, and after the intervention, body composition was assessed. Significantly more daily steps were recorded for the game intervention than for the normal intervention (10,520 ± 562 versus 8,711 ± 523 steps/day, P < 0.01). The participants performed significantly more physical activity at an intensity of ≥ 3 metabolic equivalents (METs) in the game intervention than in the normal intervention (3.1 ± 0.2 versus 2.4 ± 0.2 METs · hour/day, P < 0.01). Although body mass and fat were significantly reduced in both periods (P < 0.01), the difference in body fat reduction was significantly greater in the game intervention than in the normal intervention (P < 0.05). A short-term intervention using an activity monitor with computerized game functions increases physical activity and reduces body fat more effectively than an intervention using a standard activity monitor.