HONG KONG, Sep 2, 2008 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Children burn more than four times
as many calories a minute playing an active video game than playing a seated
game, University of Hong Kong researchers say.
Robin R. Mellecker and Alison M. McManus measured heart rate and calorie
expenditure in 18 children age 6 to 12 during a 25-minute gaming protocol.
Participants rested for five minutes, then played a seated computer bowling
game, an active bowling game and the action/running game for five minutes each,
with five minutes of rest between active games.
The study, published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, found
that compared with resting, children burned 39 percent more calories per minute
playing a seated game, 98 percent more playing active bowling and 451 percent
more during the action/running game.
In addition, participants' heart rate was significantly higher during either
active game than during rest -- 20 more beats per minute for active bowling and
79 more beats per minute for the action/running game -- and also was higher
during the action mat gaming than during seated gaming.
A recent active gaming concept allows players to experience bowling, fishing,
tennis, golf in a virtual world is the XaviX gaming system, in addition, the
XaviX system includes a gaming mat that allows participants to travel streets.
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Copyright 2008 by United Press International