PRESENCE 2: Predicting Sedentary Entertainment Choices and Effects

Sponsor

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (Other)

Overall Status

Completed

CT.gov ID

NCT01523795

Collaborator

(none)

120

Enrollment

Location

Arms

Duration (Months)

29.7

Patients Per Site Per Month

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether playing motion-controlled video games produces low caloric intake and higher caloric expenditure than watching TV or playing traditional video games.

Condition or Disease	Intervention/Treatment	Phase
Obesity Physical Activity	Other: Motion-controlled video gaming Other: Traditional video gaming Other: Television watching	N/A

Detailed Description

The purpose of this study is to investigate differences in behaviors and emotions during TV watching and video game playing. Participants will be randomized to either watch TV, play traditional button-based video games, or play motion-based video games for one hour while palatable snack foods and sugar-sweetened beverages are provided within easy reaching distance. Both energy intake as well as energy expenditure during a one-hour period will be measured. All three conditions will be optimized to resemble typical in-home conditions as much as possible.

An additional goal of this study is to provide insight into the possible pathways by which TV and video games differentially affect intake and expenditure. Distraction from the real world (also called presence or engagement) will be analyzed to determine if a) these variables differ across groups and b) if these variables explain differences in energy intake and/or expenditure. The TV group will watch TV shows using Netflix streaming service, which will allow them to choose from a variety of popular shows without viewing commercials. As the investigators are primarily interested in satiety and hand occupation effects, the lack of commercials will allow us to eliminate food advertisements as a causal factor.

Finally, the third major goal of the study is to investigate how young adults choose screen-based media. In the two video game arms, participants will be allowed to choose to play any of 10 provided games, and in the TV group, participants will be able to choose from hundreds of options. Choices of game/program, time spent on each game/program, and psychological reactions to each game will be measured and analyzed.

Study Design

Study Type:

Interventional

Actual Enrollment :

120 participants

Allocation:

Randomized

Intervention Model:

Parallel Assignment

Masking:

None (Open Label)

Official Title:

PRESENCE 2: Predicting Sedentary Entertainment Choices and Effects

Study Start Date :

Oct 1, 2010

Actual Primary Completion Date :

Feb 1, 2011

Actual Study Completion Date :

Feb 1, 2011

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/Treatment
Experimental: Motion-controlled video gaming Participants played motion-controlled video games that involved at least throwing, hitting, or dancing motions using a Wii or Xbox 360 console for one hour	Other: Motion-controlled video gaming Play of motion-controlled video games for one hour
Active Comparator: Traditional video gaming Participants played traditional (handheld gamepad controller-based) video games using a Playstation 3 console for one hour	Other: Traditional video gaming Participants played traditional video games for one hour
Active Comparator: Television watching Participants watched television via Netflix instant streaming for one hour	Other: Television watching Participants watched television for one hour

Arm

Intervention/Treatment

Experimental: Motion-controlled video gaming

Participants played motion-controlled video games that involved at least throwing, hitting, or dancing motions using a Wii or Xbox 360 console for one hour

Other: Motion-controlled video gaming

Play of motion-controlled video games for one hour

Active Comparator: Traditional video gaming

Participants played traditional (handheld gamepad controller-based) video games using a Playstation 3 console for one hour

Other: Traditional video gaming

Participants played traditional video games for one hour

Active Comparator: Television watching

Participants watched television via Netflix instant streaming for one hour

Other: Television watching

Participants watched television for one hour

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

Energy intake [One-hour study period]
Energy intake was measured by weighing available food and beverage containers before and after one-hour period in which participants watched TV/played video games, then calculating the differences in weights

Secondary Outcome Measures

Energy expenditure [One-hour study period]
Energy expenditure was measured using a Sense Wear Pro armband, which uses accelerometry and galvanic skin response to estimate metabolic equivalents

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years to 35 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study:

All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

Yes

Inclusion Criteria:

Between the ages of 18 and 35 years old

Exclusion Criteria:

Not at least a novice video game played (defined as having played games once or twice within the last year)
Has pre-existing medical condition that precludes physical activity
Is unable to find transportation to the study center
Does not agree to be videotaped during the experiment
Does not agree or is unable to fast for two hours prior to the experiment
Is pregnant or nursing
Weighs more than 300 pounds (required by one of the game controllers)