Children's Nutrition and Exercise, Healthy Lifestyles Video Game

"This project addresses the USDA request for innovative application of information technology to convey important nutritional information and awareness of health issues and provide community based interventions to advance healthy lifestyles at work, at school, at home, and at play or leisure. We will create a real video game that 1) will increase children's awareness of the relationship of healthy food choices and physical activity to body weight and overall health, 2) will increase children's self-efficacy regarding their ability to make healthy food and physical activity choices, and 3) children will choose to play because it is a real video game that they find to be as entertaining as the video games they play for fun. Awareness and self-efficacy are important first steps for changing health related behaviors. While there are many programs in place to address overweight and obesity, the problem continues to grow in the U.S. Our video game can provide a piece to the puzzle. Since children will eagerly play the game, it is an inexpensive and effective means of introducing them to the problem and of helping them build confidence that they can help prevent it from happening to them. The game will be designed to complement programs being developed and already in place in schools, community organizations, homes, and sponsored by governmental agencies. Phase I will adapt a video game from a previous SBIR project to test feasibility of the project strategy."