A new study in the U.S. has shown that video games, in combination with fitness coaching and a step tracker, have helped overweight children lose weight, lower their blood pressure and cholesterol and increase their physical activity. Children who gain excessive weight and are not physically active could develop early signs of heart disease and diabetes. They may also struggle every day with asthma, sleep apnoea and the other psychological and health challenges that excess weight and obesity can bring, according to the authors. In the study, called the GameSquad, 46 children between ages 10 to 12 who were overweight or had obesity were enrolled. Half were girls and more than half were African-American. The study randomly assigned children to a “gaming” group of 23 families or a control group of 23 families. The results of the GameSquad trial are available online and will be published in the journal, Paediatric Obesity .
