JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Physical activity (PA) plays a crucial role in the early development of children and has a significant impact on various aspects of health.

Objective:

This study evaluated a 12-week supervised, multicomponent gamified exercise program aimed at increasing PA adherence in 5-year-old preschoolers, in accordance with the 24-hour movement behavior guidelines.

Methods:

The "3, 2, 1 Move on Study" was a monocentric, single-blind, parallel-group randomized controlled trial conducted at a Primary Care Center from November 2022 to February 2023, spanning 12 weeks of training. The PREFIT Battery was used to assess physical fitness (PF) through handgrip strength and other fitness measures. The GENEActiv triaxial accelerometer was employed to record accelerometer data and measure the amount and intensity of PA.

Results:

A total of 71 participants (mean age of 5.02 ± 0.56 years) were included in the analysis. The routine care and exercise groups showed significant differences in standing long jump (p<0.001; d=-1.166), overall PF (p=0.019; d=-0.640), light PA (PA; p=0.001; d=-0.895), moderate PA (MPA; p=0.014; d=-0.654), moderate-to-vigorous PA (MPA; p=0.014; d=-0.654), and total PA (TPA; p=0.002; d=-0.83).

Conclusions:

The findings of this study suggest that gamification can effectively enhance PA levels across various intensities in 5-year-old children. Further research is needed to investigate the role of gamification in fostering sustained PA engagement and to determine its potential in promoting long-term participation in PA.