Scand J Med Sci Sports: Active video games can be used to reduce the risk of obesity in children and adolescents.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of active video games (AVGs) on obesity and physical activity levels in children and adolescents.
researchers conducted literature searches in five electronic databases and major clinical trial registries, including eligible randomized controlled trials that investigated the effects of AVGs on childhood and adolescent obesity (body mass index (BMI), body fat and waist circumference) and physical activity levels compared to no/minimum interventions.
two independent reviewers extracted data for each included study.
the risk of bias using the PEDro scale and the overall quality of the evidence using the GRADE method.
use random effect models to obtain summary estimates.
results, 12 studies were considered eligible for this review.
included in the study mostly reported data on the results of short-term (-3 months) and medium-term follow-up (more than 3 months, but less than 12 months).
-term (SMD-0.34; 95% CI: -0.62 to -0.05) and medium-term (SMD=-0.36; 95% CI:-0.01 to -0.71) follow-up results show that AVGs are more effective at reducing BMI/zBMI than no/minimum intervention.
addition, in the medium-term follow-up, AVGs were more effective in weight loss than no/minimal interventions (SMD - -0.25; 95% CI: -0.46 to -0.04).
AVGs showed no significant difference in short- and medium-term follow-up compared to minimal interventions in terms of physical activity levels.
, the review results showed that AVGs were better than minimal interventions in reducing BMI and weight, but had no effect in increasing physical activity in young people.
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