Virtual Fitness Buddy trial results in npj Digital Medicine
A cluster randomized trial of the Virtual Fitness Buddy ecosystem across 19 afterschool sites found that it shifted children's sedentary time toward light activity, most for the least active children.
The Virtual Fitness Buddy ecosystem pairs children with a virtual dog whose health depends on their physical activity. In a cluster randomized trial across 19 afterschool sites, published in npj Digital Medicine, the system shifted sedentary time toward light physical activity, with the strongest effect among the least active children. The NIH-funded project was led by Sun Joo (Grace) Ahn, with Kyle Johnsen and colleagues.