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Active computer games provide just as much exercise as social cricket, soccer and jogging, an Auckland University study has found.
The pilot study examined the physical activity needed to play Sony PlayStation's eye toy active video games. The eye toy involves a camera motion-capturing players as they move around in front of the television.
The study is the world's first randomised control trial of the activity levels of eye toy users.
The results show the games could be used as an effective weapon to help New Zealand children beat ever-increasing levels of obesity, Auckland University researcher Dr Ralph Maddison said yesterday.
Recorded activity levels from the eye toy users were comparable to traditional sports and active pursuits, he said. The study also showed playing the games led to an overall reduction in video game use.
The initial study of 21 Auckland children, aged between 10 and 14, used oxygen masks to measure energy expenditure while playing the games.
A subsequent pilot study, involving 20 new children, expanded the research. Half the children had their existing PlayStations upgraded with the eye toy function - the rest did not.
Over the 12-week study, researchers used body mass measurements and accelerometers (sophisticated pedometers) while measuring the time the children spent playing the games.
Children in the eye toy group performed significantly more physical activity, despite spending less time overall playing video games.
"We need to look at different ways, because of the increase of obesity in New Zealand, to increase activity in children," Dr Maddison said.
"Three in every 10 New Zealand children do little or no physical activity, and one third are overweight or obese - with a higher prevalence among Maori and Pacific children."
Sport and Recreation New Zealand (Sparc) Push Play manager Deb Hurdle said while there was no substitute for real sport, where children learned physical, social and leadership skills, Sparc did not have a problem with active video games.
Dr Maddison's team is now seeking a further 330 children, aged between 10 and 14, for an expanded six-month study funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand.
* HEAD TO HEAD
Complete rest - 1 MET
Playing a non-active video game - 1.3 METs
Playing the least strenuous eye toy game - 2.4 METs
Playing the most strenuous eye toy game - 5 METs
Playing social soccer, cricket, jogging or cycling - about 5 METs
(MET, or metabolic equivalent, refers to a person's working metabolic rate relative to their resting metabolic rate)
