Table 1.

A summary of exergaming studies: stratified by game type

Interactive aerobic fitness games
Reference	Study Design	Population	Exergaming Activity	Activity Duration	Results
Mellecker and McManis et al., 2008	Acute effect study; lab-based	n=18 children (11 males, 7 females) Ages 6 to 12 years; Caucasian	XaviX bowling and XaviX J-Mat	25-minute gaming protocol consisting of 5 minute seated baseline, 5 minute seated computer bowling, 5 minute XaviX bowling, 5 minute seated rest, and 5 minute XaviX J-Mat	Energy expenditure was significantly higher for the two active videogames (p<0.001 for both) when compared with rest and seated videogaming.
Miyachi et al., 2010	Acute effect study ; lab-based	n=12 adults (7 men, 5 women) Ages 25–44 years; Japanese	Wii Fit Sports (5 activities: golf, bowling, balance, tennis, baseball, and boxing) and Wii Fit Plus (63 activities classified as yoga, resistance, balance, and aerobic exercises)	8 minutes on each activity	46 activities were classified as light intensity and 22 activities were classified as moderate.
Graves et al., 2008	Acute Effect Study ;lab-based	n=13 children (6 girls, 7 boys); Ages 11–17 years; Caucasian	Wii Sports Bowling, Boxing, and Tennis vs. inactive XBOX 360	15 minutes each game	Energy expenditure and HR were significantly greater in all active video games compared to rest and sedentary gaming (p<0.001).
Graves et al., 2007	Acute Effect study ; lab-based	n=11 children (6 girls, 5 boys); Ages 13 to 15 years; Caucasian	Wii Sports Bowling, Boxing, and Tennis	15 minutes each game	All active videogames significantly increased energy expenditure (p<0.001) above resting energy expenditure
Worley et al. 2011	Acute Effect Study; lab-based	n=8 healthy young women	Wii Fit Hula and Wi Fit Steps	10 minutes each at different intensity levels	Intermediate level of active videogames produced energy expenditure equivalent to moderate intensity exercise
Lanningham-Foster et al (2009)	Acute Effect Study; lab-based	n=22 children and adults	Wii Boxing	10 minutes	Energy expenditure was significantly higher (p<0.03) when compared to resting and sedentary conditions
Leatherdale et al, 2010	Acute Effect Study; lab-based	n=51 students	Wii Sports Tennis	30 minutes	Energy expenditure was significantly higher(p<0.01) playing active videogames compared to sedentary games
Mitre et al 2011	Acute Effect Study; lab-based	Lean and obese children	Wii games	15 minutes	Active videogames increased energy expenditure by 50% above resting
White et al 2011	Acute Effect Study;lab-based	26 boys	Wii Fit and Wii Sports	8 minutes each game	Active videogames significantly increased energy expenditure (p<0.001) above resting levels
Graves et al 2010	Acute effect study; lab-based	n=42 adolescents, young adults and older adults	Wii Fit	10 minutes	Energy Expenditure was increased (p<0.001) with active videogames when compared to sedentary games.
Guderian et al 2010	Acute effect study; lab-based	n=20 men and women	Wii Fit	20 minutes	Energy expenditure was found to be equivalent to moderate intensity physical activity

Motion capture technology game
Reference	Study Design	Population	Exergaming Activity	Activity Duration	Outcome Measure	Results
Ni et al., 2008	Randomized Controlled Trial; home-based	n=20 children (8 females, 12 males) Ages 12±1.5 years Cases=10 Controls=10; Caucasian	Sony EyeToy gaming package	12-week intervention; substitute inactive videogame use with EyeToy active games	Activity counts (as measured by accelerometer)	Physical activity (counts per minute) was higher in the active video game intervention group when compared to the control group (mean difference at 12 week = 48 counts/min [95% C.I. −153, 187], p=0.6

Dance simulation games
Reference	Study Design	Population	Exergaming Activity	Activity Duration	Outcome Measure	Results
Fawkner et al., 2009	Short Term Intervention; lab-based	n=20 adolescent girls; Ages 14.0±0.3 yrs; Caucasian	ZigZag Xer-Dance (dance mat simulation game)	30 minutes with 10 minutes at each of three difficulty levels	Energy expenditure	Significant (p<0.01) increases in all variables (apart from RER) between rest and each of the three levels of difficulty, and between levels 1 and 3 and 2 and 3
Tan et al., 2002	Short-Term Intervention; lab-based	n=40 subjects (21 males, 19 females) Ages 17.5±0.7 years; Caucasian	Dance Dance Revolution 3rd Mix	Six consecutive songs (approximately 10 minutes in total)		During exergaming, participants had mean values were found to be comparable to that of medium-intensity aerobic dance
Unnithan et al., 2006	Short-Term Intervention;lab-based	n=10 overweight and n=12 non-overweight children and adolescents (16 boys, 6 girls); Caucasian	Dance Dance Revolution	12 minutes	Energy expenditure	Both groups met the ACSM recommendations for moderate intensity physical activity
Sell et al., 2008	Short-Term Intervention; lab-based	n=19 male college students (12 inexperienced DDR players and 7 inexperienced DDR players); Ages 21.8±3.5 years; Caucasian	Dance Dance Revolution	30 minutes of continuous game play	Energy expenditure	Compared with inexperienced players, experienced players exhibited significantly higher total energy expenditure (p<0.05).
Stroud et al 2010	Acute Effect Study; lab-based	n=19 adults	Dance Dance Revolution	10 minutes each 3 different intensity levels	Energy expenditure	Energy expenditure during high intensity games were significantly related to aerobic fitness

Interactive cycling game
Reference	Study Design	Population	Exergaming Activity	Activity Duration	Outcome Measure	Results
Haddock et al., 2009	Acute effect study; lab-based	n=20 overweight children (13 boys, 7 girls); Ages 7 to 14; Caucasian	GameBike ergometer vs. standard bike ergometer	20 minutes each bike	Energy expenditure	Increase in energy expenditure was significantly higher (p<0.01) using the GameBike

Isometric resistance games
Reference	Study Design	Population	Exergaming Activity	Activity Duration	Outcome Measure	Results
Bonetti et al., 2009	Acute effect study; Lab-based	n=30 college males Ages 18–30 years Cases=16 Controls=16; Caucasian	Exerstation resistance game controller vs conventional handheld XBOX	30 minutes	Heart rate, oxygen consumption, RPE, energy expenditure	The experimental group exhibited significantly higher values for oxygen consumption and energy expenditure when compared to controls.

Exergaming comparisons
Reference	Study Design	Population	Exergaming Activity	Activity Duration	Outcome Measure	Results
Maddison et al., 2007	Acute effect study; lab-based	n=21children (11 males, 10 females) Ages 12.4±1.1 years; Caucasian	EyeToy’s knockout (boxing); homerun (baseball); groove (dancing upperbody); antigrav (hover-board); and PlayStation 2 Dance UK (dance mat simulation game)	Participants were measured for a minimum of 5 minutes to a maximum of 8 minutes during each active videogame	Energy expenditure and activity levels	Energy expenditure was significantly (p<0.001) greater with the active video games when compared with resting and non-active videogame conditions.
Graf et al., 2009	Acute effect study; lab-based	n=23 healthy children (14 boys, 9 girls); Ages 10 to 13 years; Caucasian	Dance Dance Revolution(DDR); and Wii Sports Boxing and Bowling	DDR-15 minutes at beginner level and 15 minutes at basic level; Wii Boxing and Bowling-15 minutes each	Energy Expenditure	All active videogames resulted in significant elevations in energy expenditure (p<0.05) and increased 2- to 3-fold above resting values
Seigel et al., 2009	Acute effect study; lab-based	n=13 college students (6 male, 7 female) Ages 26.6±5.7 years; Caucasian	3-Kick, Jackie Chan Studio Fitness Power Boxing, and GameBike (Disney’s Cars Piston Cup Race)	30 minutes to perform any one of the three games (participants’ choice	Energy Expenditure, heart rate; ability to meet ACSM recommendations	Energy expenditure and heart rate increased significantly above baseline values (p<0.01).
Lanningham-Foster et al., 2006	Acute effect study; lab-based	n=25 healthy children (12 boys, 13 girls) Ages 9.7±1.6 years; 22 Caucasian; 2 Asian; 1 African American (not of Hispanic origin)	EyeToy (NickToon’s Movin); and Dance Dance Revolution	15 minutes each game	Energy expenditure	Significantly greater increases (p<0.00001) in energy expenditure were found for both active videogames when compared with sitting, watching television and seat-based videogaming
Bailey et al 2011	Acute effect study; lab-based	n=39 boys and girls	Six types of active videogames; Dance Dance Revolution, Lightspace, Nintendo Wii, CybexTrazer, Sportwall, and Xavix	15 minutes	Energy expenditure	All active videogames increased energy expenditure levels above rest(p=≤0.05)
Lyons et al 2011	Acute effect study	n=100 young adults	Shooter, Band Simulation, Dance mat controller and fitness	13 minutes each game	Energy Expenditure	Fitness and dance simulation games increased energy expenditure above rest by 322% and 298% respectively