Actively playing video games is as beneficial as jogging

Video games are often associated with a sedentary life. However, in recent years, consoles allow you to take an active part in them. British researchers from the University of Bath reveal in a study published on September 28 in the Games for Health Journal that they provide the player with the same benefits as jogging.

Games arouse envy

Researchers conducted a randomized trial involving patients with type 1 diabetes playing active or running video games on a moderate-intensity treadmill. For the game portion of the test, each patient used the Kinect Adventures game with the Kinect system on Xbox which uses a camera to track players’ movements throughout the game. The researchers measured heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen uptake efficiency, and their ability to maintain blood flow immediately after, 30 minutes after, and 24 hours after exercise sessions.

Playing is better than running

The results show that active video games produce physiological effects”very similarto those in treadmill exercise, the researchers found. Blood glucose levels also dropped to equivalent levels during both types of exercise for diabetic patients.

The main difference the team found was that the volunteers found the video games to be much more motivating and fun than running on the treadmill. Participants noted that the added element of scoring points, earning badges or obtaining virtual rewards helped them to continue the exercise and improve their performance. “While it’s not the magic bullet for staying active, we’ve found that gamers enjoy playing exercise games much more than running.”, noted Dr. Pooya Soltani, lead author of the study.