Can active video games be a good alternative to real exercise for adults? A cross-sectional study

Purpose: Active video game systems controlled through upper/lower gestures and motions are becoming enormously popular. The purpose of this study was to examine whether physiological responses to “virtual” self-paced walking bouts are comparable to those physiological responses to more “real”, self-paced treadmill walking bouts. Methods: Eight Italian men (n=3) and women (n=5) performed 10 min. bouts of “real” (i.e., treadmill) and “virtual” (i.e., Wii Fit Plus) walking at a self-­selected pace, which were completed in a random, counterbalanced order. Each activity was continued for 10 min. to obtain a steady state of each physiological variable. Pulmonary ventilation (VE, STPD), oxygen uptake (VO2), and carbon dioxide production (VCO2) were measured by a gas analysis system. Energy expenditure (EE) and metabolic equivalents (METs) were derived from these respiratory measurements. Results: There were no differences between “virtual” and “real” self-paced walking bouts for oxygen uptake, heart rate, and energy expenditure, and METs. Both “virtual” and “real” self-paced walking bouts were classified as moderate intensity (3.0-6.0 METs). Conclusions: Active video game systems controlled through upper/lower gestures and motions may be comparable to more “real”, exercise. These “virtual” activities might contribute for the daily amount of exercise recommendedby the American College of Sports Medicine guidelines.