Gao and former students publish a paper in exergaming among preschool children

Zan Gao, PhD

Zan Gao, PhD, professor in the School of Kinesiology and director of the Physical Activity Epidemiology Laboratory (PAEL), has published a paper entitled, “Effects of home-based exergaming on preschool children’s cognition, sedentary behavior, and physical activity: A randomized crossover trial,” at Brain Behavior and Immunity Integrative with his former doctoral students, Drs. Nan Zeng (Research Assistant Professor at the University of New Mexico) and Jung Eun Lee (Associate Professor at University of Minnesota at Duluth). This trial evaluated the preliminary effects of an educational exergaming program (LeapTV™) versus usual practice on preschool children’s executive function, sedentary behavior, and physical activity. They found the LeapTV™ exergaming program would promote meaningful improvements in preschool children’s executive function and physical activity behaviors.