BACKGROUND: Considering adolescents' heavy use of media, serious videogames may provide an engaging and innovative way to achieve positive impact on adolescents' diet and physical activity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of playing a serious game, "Creature-101" (developed by Teachers College, Columbia University [New York, NY] and Stottler Henke Inc. [San Mateo, CA]), at promoting energy balance-related behaviors (EBRBs) such as increasing fruits and vegetables intake, water intake, and physical activity and decreasing processed snacks intake, sweetened beverages intake, and recreational screen time. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This pre-post intervention-control study (n=590) was conducted in New York City low-income public middle schools. The students (11-13 years of age, 51.6 percent male) played "Creature-101" online in science/health education classes (seven sessions, 30 minutes each session for 1 month). "Creature-101" used behavioral theories as the framework for "creature care" in a world "Tween." Students were provided with scientific evidence that promoted energy balance through minigames, educational videos, and slideshows and were motivated with interactive dialogues with game characters. Students also assessed their own behaviors, created their own "real life" food and activity goals, and reported their progress. A self-reported, validated, online instrument that measured frequency and amount of targeted behaviors was administered at baseline and post-intervention. RESULTS: Analysis of covariance compared post-test means between groups with pretest scores as covariates. Intervention students reported significant decreases in frequency and amount of consumption of sweetened beverages and processed snacks compared with the controls. No changes were observed for the other behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: "Creature-101" was effective at reducing consumption of sweetened beverages and processed snacks, which are related to obesity risks, indicating that the game shows promise at promoting EBRBs.
BACKGROUND: Considering adolescents' heavy use of media, serious videogames may provide an engaging and innovative way to achieve positive impact on adolescents' diet and physical activity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of playing a serious game, "Creature-101" (developed by Teachers College, Columbia University [New York, NY] and Stottler Henke Inc. [San Mateo, CA]), at promoting energy balance-related behaviors (EBRBs) such as increasing fruits and vegetables intake, water intake, and physical activity and decreasing processed snacks intake, sweetened beverages intake, and recreational screen time. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This pre-post intervention-control study (n=590) was conducted in New York City low-income public middle schools. The students (11-13 years of age, 51.6 percent male) played "Creature-101" online in science/health education classes (seven sessions, 30 minutes each session for 1 month). "Creature-101" used behavioral theories as the framework for "creature care" in a world "Tween." Students were provided with scientific evidence that promoted energy balance through minigames, educational videos, and slideshows and were motivated with interactive dialogues with game characters. Students also assessed their own behaviors, created their own "real life" food and activity goals, and reported their progress. A self-reported, validated, online instrument that measured frequency and amount of targeted behaviors was administered at baseline and post-intervention. RESULTS: Analysis of covariance compared post-test means between groups with pretest scores as covariates. Intervention students reported significant decreases in frequency and amount of consumption of sweetened beverages and processed snacks compared with the controls. No changes were observed for the other behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: "Creature-101" was effective at reducing consumption of sweetened beverages and processed snacks, which are related to obesity risks, indicating that the game shows promise at promoting EBRBs.
Authors: Ann DeSmet; Dimitri Van Ryckeghem; Sofie Compernolle; Tom Baranowski; Debbe Thompson; Geert Crombez; Karolien Poels; Wendy Van Lippevelde; Sara Bastiaensens; Katrien Van Cleemput; Heidi Vandebosch; Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij Journal: Prev Med Date: 2014-08-27 Impact factor: 4.018
Authors: Carmen B Franse; Mirte Boelens; Lisa R Fries; Florence Constant; Amy van Grieken; Hein Raat Journal: Obes Rev Date: 2020-03-13 Impact factor: 9.213
Authors: Isabelle Mack; Nadine Reiband; Carolin Etges; Sabrina Eichhorn; Norbert Schaeffeler; Guido Zurstiege; Caterina Gawrilow; Katja Weimer; Riyad Peeraully; Martin Teufel; Gunnar Blumenstock; Katrin Elisabeth Giel; Florian Junne; Stephan Zipfel Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2020-04-24 Impact factor: 5.428
Authors: Ann DeSmet; Debbe Thompson; Tom Baranowski; Antonio Palmeira; Maïté Verloigne; Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2016-04-29 Impact factor: 5.428