Get Out of the Chair = Solutions for Physcial Activity Mandates

In a 2007 article published in "Pediatrics," seven researchers including James Levine of the Mayo Clinic explored, "Energy Expenditure of Sedentary Screen Time Compared With Active Screen Time"

Their objective was to examine the effect of activity-enhancing screen devices on children's energy expenditure compared with performing the same activities while seated. Their hypothesis was that energy expenditure would be significantly greater when children played activity-promoting video games, compared with sedentary video games.

We are keenly interested in that activity-promoting outcome, since ExerLearning ties cognitive benefits and brain productivity with the oxygen-delivering aspect of physical activity.

Energy expenditure was measured for 25 children aged 8 to 12 years, 15 of whom were lean, while they were watching television seated, playing a traditional video game seated, watching television while walking on a treadmill at 1.5 miles per hour, and playing activity-promoting video games.
The results could be expected and we are pleased with the outcome: Watching television and playing video games while seated increased energy expenditure by 20 ± 13% and 22 ± 12% above resting values, respectively. When subjects were walking on the treadmill and watching television, energy expenditure increased by 138 ± 40% over resting values. For the activity-promoting video games, energy expenditure increased by 108 ± 40% with the EyeToy (Sony Computer Entertainment) and by 172 ± 68% with Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix 2 (Konami Digital Entertainment).
If you are a parent or educator, the results are important to you and your student. Energy expenditure more than doubles when sedentary screen time is converted to active screen time. When energy expenditure doubles while a person is re-designing the way they perform a formerly sedentary pursuit a new, active habit can be developed. Fot schools - this could be an easy to implement strategy. Generation FIT and FootGaming are two solutions we can customize for you. We welcome your questions and comments.