Short-Term and Long-Term Effectiveness of Exergames for Young Adults

This study investigates the effects of the Mount Olympus game, a 3D fantasy role-playing game that requires players to move their upper and lower body in order to move their character throughout the world of the game.  Overweight and inactive college students participate in the study, which randomly assigns them either to play Mount Olympus or to use a motivational web site designed to promote and support physical activity.  The study examines the extent to which each media activity meets individuals’ needs for competence, autonomy, and social relatedness and how meeting these needs may motivate engagement in the activity and, in this study, may lead to more physical activity in daily life, more weight loss, and more improved health outcomes.