Evaluation of the energy cost of playing a dance simulation video game in overweight and non-overweight children and adolescents

The purpose of this study was to determine if there were any differences in the submaximal energy cost of movement between overweight (OW) and non-overweight (NO) children while playing a dance simulation video game, Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) and to determine if the cardiorespiratory measures obtained while playing the game met the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommendations for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory fitness. Twenty-two children and adolescents (10 OW vs. 12 NO) participated in the study. Cardiorespiratory measurements were taken both during a maximal treadmill walking test and during a 12-minute Dance Dance Revolution protocol. The average absolute V·O2 (OW: 917.1 ± 257.1 vs. 590.6 ± 147.9 mL · min-1) sustained over the DDR protocol was significantly higher in the OW group compared to the NO group. There was no significant difference in the average energy cost of movement when V·O2 was normalized to fat-free mass (OW: 17.7 ± 5.1 vs. NO: 17.3 ± 3.9 mL · kgFFM-1 · min-1). Both groups were above the minimal ACSM recommended heart rate intensity for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory fitness when participating in the DDR protocol (OW: 64.83 % ± 7.14 vs. NO: 64.51 % ± 7.71), V·O2reserve, however, did not meet ACSM standards for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory fitness.