Estimating Energy Expenditure in Active Video Gaming Compared to Unstructured, Outdoor Play in Children

Fifteen children, aged 5- to 8- years, attending a nearby preschool, with a normal body mass index (BMI)-for-age percentile between, \> 5th % to \< 85th %.BMI, will participate in unstructured, outdoor play and one AVGs in a randomized order. Activity type, duration and intensity will be measured via accelerometery and direct observation. The energy expenditure (EE) will be calculated from Metabolic Equivalent (MET) values and the percent of time each activity meets MVPA intensity will be calculated. A MET is the energy cost of the activity expressed as kilocalories expended per kilogram of body weight per hour of activity. If EE and intensity in AVG play is similar to EE and intensity in outdoor play, then AVG play could be a great supplement to efforts aimed at increasing PA in children.