Psychological effects of dance-based group exergaming in obese adolescents

Background: In order to attract obese adolescents who are often reluctant to engage in traditional exercise, new forms of physical activity are needed. Objectives: The purpose of the study was to investigate the impact of dance-based exergaming on a diverse sample of obese adolescents' perceived competence to exercise, psychological adjustment and body mass index (BMI). Methods: A diverse sample of 40 obese adolescents was randomized to either a 10-week group dance-based exergaming programme or a wait-list control condition. Baseline and follow-up measures included adolescent self-reported psychological adjustment and perceived competence to exercise, and maternal report of adolescent psychological adjustment and anthropometric measures. Results: Compared with controls, participants in the dance-based exergaming condition significantly increased in self-reported perceived competence to exercise regularly and reported significant improvement in relations with parents from baseline to end-of-treatment. Maternal report of adolescent externalizing and internalizing symptomatology also decreased from baseline to end-of-treatment. No pre-post differences in BMI were seen within or between conditions. Conclusions: Results support the positive impact of dance-based exergaming on obese adolescents' psychological functioning and perceived competence to continue exercise.