Exergames in the prevention against childhood obesity: a systematic review

Abstract Objective: The aim of this systematic review is to present an up-to-date investigation on the impact of exergaming on overweight and obese children’s physical and psychosocial outcomes. This would make it possible to clarify exergaming’s effectiveness in the fight against childhood obesity. Method: A comprehensive research equation was inserted in the following databases: Pubmed, Cochrane, Sportdiscuss and Medline. Only trials published in English or French since 2010 and matching PICO’s guidelines were selected for further analysis. Results: Out of the 223 identified articles, 21 corresponded to the inclusion criteria and were chosen for further analysis. The trials were heterogenous in terms of outcome variables. Whilst all trials were a direct or indirect measure of an obesity-related factor as an outcome variable, the trials protocols varied in terms of type and doses of exergames, making it difficult to compare results to one another. Exergaming seems to effectively motivate obese children to increase physical activity levels and reduce sedentary behavior. Conclusion: Exergames might be a useful tool in the prevention against childhood obesity. However, the large heterogeneity between trials does not allow us to draw any precise conclusions about the intensity of treatment or the intervention protocol that would prove most effective. High-quality and well-designed future interventions are necessary to create more precise guidelines before this tool will be used to fight children obesity.