Using Digital Games and Game Technologies to Promote Fitness

Debra Lieberman, Ph.D.

UC Santa Barbara and Health Games Research

Best Practices in Fitness Promotion Conference

Santa Barbara County Public Health

May 11, 2012

Well designed games are: Powerful experiences

Interactive

Immersive

Challenging and motivating

Mission-driven, goal-driven

Rewarding, fun

Boost knowledge and skills

Give feedback andchances to try again

Social

Inter-generational

Therapeutic

Springboards for discussion and support

Icebreakers that fostercloser relationships

Networked, mobile, always available

Tools and sensors expand game design options

Being a character or helping a character influences self-concepts, attitudes about health

Rehearsal and success improve self confidence

Diabetes

Smoking prevention

Asthma

Interactive video games for health behavior change

Clinical Trial ResultsMedical Informatics, 22(1), 1997

• Stanford and Kaiser outpatients• 59 diabetic children, ages 8 - 16• Randomized, controlled• 6-month trial• Voluntary, at-home use• 34 hours of play per child

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urgent care and ER visits 77% reduction in

Research gives us:

Behavioral health strategies

Learning strategies

Evidence – did the game improve health behaviors and outcomes? How?

Principles of health game design

Can playing digital games improve our health? Yes! Studies find improvements in:

Healthy eating, physical activity, weight loss

Cancer prevention, alcohol relapse prevention, smoking prevention

Self-management of chronic diseases

Adherence: Following one’s treatment plan

Cognitive skills

Physical therapy, phobia therapy

Clinical skills … and much more

Active games – Exergames

Exergames – require physical exertion to play

Dance pads (DDR), cameras (Xbox Kinect)

Many studies find that they are motivating and they help with weight loss, aerobic fitness

Positive impacts on social relationships, school engagement and performance, self-concepts

Possible “gateway” to a physically active lifestyle

Active games – Mobile games

Sensors and network support fitness activities

Gather data about steps, distance, location, heart rate

Local company: DigiFit

RunKeeper, Nike Plus, Zamzee, FitBit

Links to social network, for social support

Can be motivating, supportive, effective

Nutrition Games

Cooking, quizzes, food groups, grocery shopping, meal planning, safe food handling, calorie counting, portion control

Escape from Diab, Squire’s Quest, Amazing Food Detective, Nutrition Sleuth, Dining Decisions, Perfect Plate, Snack Dash, Lunch Crunch

Research finds that Escape from Diab and Squire’s Quest increase fruit & vegetable servings per day

We need better nutrition games – great potential

Use the online, searchableHealth Games Research Database

www.healthgamesresearch.org/db

Health gamesPublicationsResources

OrganizationsEvents

Thank you!Learn more at:

www.healthgamesresearch.org

Funded by the Pioneer Portfolio of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Debra Lieberman, Ph.D.Director, Health Games Research

UC Santa Barbara