Factors That Influence Young Adults’ Preferences for Virtual Reality Exergames in a Weight Control Setting: Qualitative Study
BackgroundObesity could compromise people’s health and elevate the risk of numerous severe chronic conditions and premature mortality. Young adults are at high risk of adopting unhealthy lifestyles related to overweight and obesity, as they are at a phase marked by several si...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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JMIR Publications
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| Online Access: | https://www.jmir.org/2024/1/e58422 |
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| author | Yanya Chen Lina Guan Weixin Wu Liang Ye Yan He Xiaofen Zheng Sicun Li Bingsheng Guan Wai-kit Ming |
| author_facet | Yanya Chen Lina Guan Weixin Wu Liang Ye Yan He Xiaofen Zheng Sicun Li Bingsheng Guan Wai-kit Ming |
| author_sort | Yanya Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
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BackgroundObesity could compromise people’s health and elevate the risk of numerous severe chronic conditions and premature mortality. Young adults are at high risk of adopting unhealthy lifestyles related to overweight and obesity, as they are at a phase marked by several significant life milestones that have been linked to weight gain. They gain weight rapidly and excess adiposity mostly accrues, compared with middle-aged and older adults when weight stabilizes or even decreases. Virtual reality exergames have the potential to increase physical activity in people’s daily lives. However, the factors that influence young adults’ preference for using virtual reality exergames for weight control remain unclear.
ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to identify, characterize, and explain the factors influencing young adults' preference for weight control using virtual reality exergames.
MethodsThis qualitative study used semistructured interviews. In total, 4 focus group interviews were conducted with 23 young adults aged between 18 and 25 years. The qualitative data were analyzed using the Colaizzi phenomenological methodology.
ResultsIn total, 3 major factors were found to influence young adults’ preference for virtual reality exergames in weight control settings: individual factors, social or environmental factors, and expectations of virtual reality exergames. Individual factors included experience with previous weight control methods, previous experience with virtual reality, psychological status, attitudes toward personal BMI, preference for exercise type, and acceptance of virtual reality exergames. Social or environmental factors included social definitions of beauty, weather or public health events, and knowledge of virtual reality provided. Expectations of virtual reality exergames included cost of the device, the fun of virtual reality exergames, supervision, modality of virtual reality exergames, feedback after exercise, convenience to use, and weight loss effect.
ConclusionsYoung adults take various factors into account when deciding whether to use virtual reality exergames for weight control. These factors can inform the development and further refinement of devices, guides, and policies related to virtual reality exergames for controlling weight. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-25a4bffa43f8488dab5689be0d3e21b9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1438-8871 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-25a4bffa43f8488dab5689be0d3e21b92024-12-30T21:01:36ZengJMIR PublicationsJournal of Medical Internet Research1438-88712024-12-0126e5842210.2196/58422Factors That Influence Young Adults’ Preferences for Virtual Reality Exergames in a Weight Control Setting: Qualitative StudyYanya Chenhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7130-1300Lina Guanhttps://orcid.org/0009-0002-3831-135XWeixin Wuhttps://orcid.org/0009-0001-7004-6675Liang Yehttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0824-0178Yan Hehttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2783-6137Xiaofen Zhenghttps://orcid.org/0009-0005-6165-7780Sicun Lihttps://orcid.org/0009-0006-3138-060XBingsheng Guanhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-8583-8045Wai-kit Minghttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-8846-7515 BackgroundObesity could compromise people’s health and elevate the risk of numerous severe chronic conditions and premature mortality. Young adults are at high risk of adopting unhealthy lifestyles related to overweight and obesity, as they are at a phase marked by several significant life milestones that have been linked to weight gain. They gain weight rapidly and excess adiposity mostly accrues, compared with middle-aged and older adults when weight stabilizes or even decreases. Virtual reality exergames have the potential to increase physical activity in people’s daily lives. However, the factors that influence young adults’ preference for using virtual reality exergames for weight control remain unclear. ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to identify, characterize, and explain the factors influencing young adults' preference for weight control using virtual reality exergames. MethodsThis qualitative study used semistructured interviews. In total, 4 focus group interviews were conducted with 23 young adults aged between 18 and 25 years. The qualitative data were analyzed using the Colaizzi phenomenological methodology. ResultsIn total, 3 major factors were found to influence young adults’ preference for virtual reality exergames in weight control settings: individual factors, social or environmental factors, and expectations of virtual reality exergames. Individual factors included experience with previous weight control methods, previous experience with virtual reality, psychological status, attitudes toward personal BMI, preference for exercise type, and acceptance of virtual reality exergames. Social or environmental factors included social definitions of beauty, weather or public health events, and knowledge of virtual reality provided. Expectations of virtual reality exergames included cost of the device, the fun of virtual reality exergames, supervision, modality of virtual reality exergames, feedback after exercise, convenience to use, and weight loss effect. ConclusionsYoung adults take various factors into account when deciding whether to use virtual reality exergames for weight control. These factors can inform the development and further refinement of devices, guides, and policies related to virtual reality exergames for controlling weight.https://www.jmir.org/2024/1/e58422 |
| spellingShingle | Yanya Chen Lina Guan Weixin Wu Liang Ye Yan He Xiaofen Zheng Sicun Li Bingsheng Guan Wai-kit Ming Factors That Influence Young Adults’ Preferences for Virtual Reality Exergames in a Weight Control Setting: Qualitative Study Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| title | Factors That Influence Young Adults’ Preferences for Virtual Reality Exergames in a Weight Control Setting: Qualitative Study |
| title_full | Factors That Influence Young Adults’ Preferences for Virtual Reality Exergames in a Weight Control Setting: Qualitative Study |
| title_fullStr | Factors That Influence Young Adults’ Preferences for Virtual Reality Exergames in a Weight Control Setting: Qualitative Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors That Influence Young Adults’ Preferences for Virtual Reality Exergames in a Weight Control Setting: Qualitative Study |
| title_short | Factors That Influence Young Adults’ Preferences for Virtual Reality Exergames in a Weight Control Setting: Qualitative Study |
| title_sort | factors that influence young adults preferences for virtual reality exergames in a weight control setting qualitative study |
| url | https://www.jmir.org/2024/1/e58422 |
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