Effectiveness of active video game usage on body composition, physical activity level and motor proficiency in children with intellectual disability

Background: Interventions with active video games (AVGs) can promote physical activity (PA) and health and are compatible with a school setting. The needs of children with intellectual disability (ID) in this area have been neglected. Methods: A two-arm trial was conducted among 203 students with intellectual disability. The intervention group was prescribed a 12-week intervention with AVG. The control group continued with usual PA. Results: Children's BOT-2 short-form score increased in both the intervention and control groups. However, the AVG intervention had no statistically significant effect on children's body composition, PA and motor proficiency overall, or in analyses of subgroups based on age, body weight and comorbid autism. Conclusion: Active video game intervention had no marked effect on body composition, PA and motor proficiency in children with intellectual disability. The reasons for the lack of effectivity of the intervention are discussed; these may provide better guidelines for future AVG intervention in children with intellectual disability.