Dr. Jean-Philippe Chaput and HALO alumnus Dr. David Thivel are among the authors on a paper, “Lean adolescents achieve higher intensities but not higher energy expenditure while playing active video games compared with obese ones,” that was recently published in Pediatric Obesity. Citation details and a summary of the paper are below.

Chaput JP, Genin PM, Le Moel B, Pereira B, Boirie Y, Duclos M, Thivel D. Lean adolescents achieve higher intensities but not higher energy expenditure while playing active video games compared with obese ones. Pediatr Obes. 2016 Apr;11(2):102-6.

ABSTRACT: Background. While decreased physical activity and increased sedentary behaviours are incriminated for their role in the progression of obesity,active video games (AVG) may offer a new alternative to increase energy expenditure in youth. This study is the first to examine the effect of a 1-h AVG play on lean and obese adolescentsenergy expenditure. Methods. Body composition and aerobic fitness were assessed in 19 obese and 12 lean adolescent boys (12-15 years old). Participants performed a 1-h AVG session (Kinect Sports technology) while wearing a portable indirect calorimeter (K4b2) to assess their energy expenditure and heart rate. Results. Body weight (91.0 ± 9.5 vs. 58.5 ± 12.4 kg), body mass index (32.2 ± 3.1 vs. 20.3 ± 1.6 kg m(-2) ) and body fat (38.1 ± 2.7 vs. 13.4 ± 3.9%) were significantly higher in obese adolescents (P < 0.001). Absolute energy expenditure was significantly higher in obese (P < 0.05) but not when corrected for body composition. Maximal heart rate reached during AVG was significantly higher in lean adolescents (190 ± 25 vs. 183 ± 28 bpm, P < 0.05). Time spent between 3 and 6 METs (Metabolic Equivalent Task) was not different between groups but time spent above 6 METs was higher inlean adolescents (P < 0.05). Conclusion. Although lean and obese adolescent boys experienced similar energy expenditure relative to their body size during a 1-h Kinect AVG session, lean adolescents spent more time in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.