Active Gaming

Just as Good as the Real Thing?

The latest research shows that Canadians of all ages are not active enough to achieve health benefits and help prevent long term illnesses like heart disease, diabetes and cancer. In addition, our leisure time is too often spent in sedentary (inactive) pastimes like watching TV, surfing the internet, or playing computer games. But can playing an active computer game, known as an ‘exergame’ help people achieve physical activity goals?

When researchers looked at this question, the results were mixed. In general, less energy is needed to play an active video game (like tennis for example), than the amount of energy needed to play a traditional game of tennis. Most exergames:

• Involve low to moderate intensity activity, although how active a person is really depends on the game being played.
• Rounds last fewer than 10 minutes which is the minimum amount of time recommended for a physical activity to be performed. Find out more information on the New Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines.

Other issues include overuse of the exergame and the risk of becoming bored with the games once they’ve been played a few times. The biggest problem occurs when exergames replace the real game because so much more energy is used in a real game or physical activity than can be generally achieved in an exergame.

Even though playing exergames may not meet the recommended physical activity guidelines, there are still many benefits to choosing an active game over a non active game:

• Builds confidence in people who are not active and encourages them to be active
• Helps learn new skills
• Offers different activities and sports which may be new for people
• Keeps people interested in traditional sports
• Great way to be active at home during severe weather conditions

So the next time you have the option to be active, seize the moment! If an active video game is the next best option, then grab your remote control and go!