| 156 | Tuesday, April 8, 2008 |
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| 5:30 PM-6:45 PM | Renaissance Worthington Hotel:Brazos Room |
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| 2008 R. Tait McKenzie Memorial Lecture: Serious Games - Interactive Multimedia for Physical Activity and Dietary Behavior Change Among Children |
| Obesity is a mushrooming problem in the United States, including among children. Obesity prevention programs for children have generally not had the desired effects. New methods are needed that capture and maintain children’s attention and offer a promise of promoting behavior change. Videogames are increasingly popular among children (and young adults). Videogames capture and maintain attention through immersive stories and interactive tasks. Theory based videogames have been demonstrated to promote behavior change, most likely by incorporating tailored behavior change procedures (e.g. goal setting, problem solving, behavior specific knowledge and skill games), tailored motivational messages, and using story (narrative) as a behavior change procedure. A recent review of published studies of videogames revealed all but one had positive changes among children. In his talk, Dr. Baranowski, Professor of Pediatrics with the Baylor College of Medicine, will describe research to date, drawing from his research efforts. Videogames provide an emerging “tool” for those involved in promoting healthy, active lifestyles. Implications will be drawn for both those studying and those implementing health promotion programs in schools and the community. |
Keyword(s): research
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| Presiders: John P. Bennett, AAHPERD President, University of North Carolina-Wilmington, Wilmington, NC; and Ellen J. Staurowsky, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY |
| Speaker: Tom Baranowski, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX |