Get Fit with Ring Fit Adventure: How does a Novel Active Video Game compare to a Traditional Exercise Protocol? View PDF

Active Video Games (AVG’s) provide a unique opportunity to merge a popular entertainment avenue with health benefits. With the impact COVID-19 on weight and physical activity, more avenues for physical activity at home are needed [1-5]. While popularity of AVG’s have waned in the last decade, the recent release of Ring-Fit AdventureTM (RF) has rejuvenated the status of AVG’s with a surge in popularity alongside the Nintendo Switch [6]. Uncertainty exists regarding the effectiveness of AVG’s physiologically. According to a meta-analysis, AVG’s were effective in increasing light-moderate physical activity and were comparable to traditional physical activities among young populations [7]. However, another meta-analysis found that AVG’s had little impact on weight among younger populations [8]. Another review among youth and young adults found that while AVG’s are a healthier alternative to sedentary behavior, the case for large impact on physical activity and body composition has yet to be made [9]. The literature points to mixed results and more updated versions of these games need to be investigated and compared to more traditional forms of exercise. Adult populations are often ignored in the literature as very few studies exist outside of short-term measures of energy expenditure [10,11]. Interventions are needed that investigate physiological impact to detail whether this mode of exercise can lead to improved health outcomes [11]. The purpose of this study was to compare the impact of RF versus a sprint interval training plus resistance training (SIT+RT) regimen on body composition amongst the same women, with two years separating the studies.