Enhancing Fitness with Gamification

Last December, Michael Garcia found himself visiting Dave & Buster’s in Gaithersburg, Md., to play an arcade game called Pump It Up. This game involves matching your movements to the rhythm of music, guided by colored arrows on a platform. As you progress through the levels, the beats speed up and become more intricate. Garcia, 26, initially played for brief periods, but soon found himself playing for extended sessions. “I stayed here for 8 hours on Saturday,” he says, even bringing a packed lunch to sustain his gaming marathon.

Garcia began to notice positive changes in his body. He was losing weight and becoming fitter, all while enjoying himself. He notes that playing Pump It Up never felt like exercise, raising the question of why this was the case.

The game aims to synchronize your body movements with the beat of the music.

This phenomenon is explained by the research field of fitness gamification. Dr. Mitesh Patel, a researcher at the health care group Ascension, explains that this field focuses on making tedious activities like exercise enjoyable. Games like Pump It Up capture what makes games addictive: points, levels, and challenges. They integrate these elements with physical activity, making people more likely to keep playing.

Life Kit consulted with Patel and Elizabeth Lyons, an associate professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch, for insights on making exercise fun. Lyons studies how gamification can motivate older women to exercise.

1. Set a Clear Objective

Patel suggests having a clear goal when exercising, similar to objectives in games. Setting goals like walking 10,000 steps a day or running 6 miles a week focuses your efforts. Track your progress using digital tools like wearable tech or smartphone apps. Alternatively, jot down your activity duration in a notebook for a low-tech approach.

2. Compete with Others

Adding competition to workouts can boost motivation. A 2019 study in JAMA Internal Medicine found that participants in competitive step challenges walked more. Consider fitness programs with friendly competition, like the Zwift app or corporate wellness challenges. Fitness video games offer competitive elements as well. Games like Nintendo’s Ring Fit Adventure or VR games like Beat Saber encourage competitive play.

3. Collaborate with Friends

The JAMA study also showed that collaboration increases activity. Participants divided into teams worked together toward step goals. You can emulate this by collaborating with close friends or family. They can hold you accountable and motivate you to stick to your goals. Bring a gym buddy along to maintain workout commitments.

4. Introduce Whimsy

Lyons from the University of Texas Medical Branch suggests incorporating unpredictability and surprise into workouts. As part of her research, she uses fun challenges to motivate older women to walk. Ideas include taking photos of unique sights or identifying tree species during walks. You can bring a sense of playfulness to your routines by setting fun challenges to enrich your exercise experience.

Audrey Nguyen produced the audio portion of this article with engineering support from Stu Rushfield. Edited by Malaka Gharib.

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