Active Video Games on Physical Activity (Main Trial)

The study aims to explore the effects of narrative-enhanced AVG on (1) body composition, (2) cardiometabolic risks, and (3) cognitive functioning among overweight/obese 8-12 years old children over 6 months.

A total of 210 children will be recruited from Tufts Floating Hospital, Boston Children's Hospital, and Martha Eliot Health Center. The investigators divided the participants into three groups to evaluate the effect of using active game consoles and stories to motivate children to exercise: A third of them have standard clinical care only; a third of them have the same standard clinical care plus an Xbox and active games; the remaining third of them have the same standard clinical care, an Xbox and active games, plus the stories delivered to their Xbox consoles.

Each child, accompanied by their guardian, will be asked to visit the Northeastern University Exercise Science Laboratory over the 6-month period. Blood samples, body composition (using Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, or DEXA Scan), and cognitive and affective evaluations of the active video games (AVGs) will be collected. Additionally, parents will be asked to fill out questionnaires related to their child's physical activity behaviors. Children would also be required to wear two accelerometers (essentially, a "smart watch" or activity tracker) on their wrist and waist for 7 consecutive days after the three visits within the 6 months.

Inclusion criteria

• 8-to-12-year-old
• Being overweight or obese (BMI% >=85)
• Speak and understand English
• Are willing and able to complete all measures
• Equal numbers of both genders will be recruited
• One child per household will be eligible to participate

Exclusion criteria

• Not between 8 and 12
• Not being overweight or obese
• Do not speak and understand English
• Have medical or physical problems that prevent them from playing AVGs, such as epilepsy
• Use orthopedic devices