Gamification boosts physical activity, healthy behaviors in new study
Gamification boosts physical activity, healthy behaviors in new study
Gamification boosts physical activity, healthy behaviors in new study
By Mallory Hackett
July 19, 2021
Summary
A new study from JAMA Network Open sought to test how well gamification - paired with social support and financial incentives - could improve physical activity among veterans who were overweight or obese.
These included a control group without gamification, social support or loss-framed financial incentives and two intervention groups with gamification - one with just social support and one with social support and loss-framed financial incentives.
TOPLINE DATA. During the 12-week intervention, gamification with social support and loss-framed financial incentives resulted in a "Modest increase in physical activity," but it was not sustained over the eight-week follow-up, according to the study.
Neither tracking physical activity with a wearable device alone nor doing so with gamification and social support significantly changed activity levels among the veteran participants.
Although the results from this study were modest, the researchers note that even slight increases in physical activity can have health benefits.
"​​Our findings suggest that these approaches can motivate physical activity over shorter-term periods, but additional work needs to focus on increasing the effect and sustaining it," the authors of the study said.
THE LARGER TREND. Another recent study, also out of the University of Pennsylvania, tested the effectiveness of gamification in promoting physical activity and weight loss among adults with uncontrolled Type 2 diabetes.
Reference
Hackett, M. (2021, July 19). Gamification boosts physical activity, healthy behaviors in new study. Retrieved October 06, 2021, from https://www.mobihealthnews.com/news/gamification-boosts-physical-activity-healthy-behaviors-new-study