Anyone with a sweet tooth knows exactly how difficult it is to resist unhealthy foods that taste great. Countless diet programs have been established over the years to try to train people to choose healthier foods and avoid empty calories that pack on the pounds. However, the secret ingredient diet plans may be missing is game based training that has shown promising real-world results that lead to additional weight loss.
Two studies are taking a fresh look at an old standby of medical education and game based learning: simulators. With growing focus on optimizing education and skill in medical practitioners, tools and curriculum for their training are being given another look.
Health care experts warn that child obesity rates are rising to alarming levels. With the increase in obesity-related medical conditions, such as diabetes, it’s no wonder that parents and health professionals alike are looking for ways to keep children healthy. A good diet is one part of the equation. But an equally important part of child health is physical activity. Gamification startup HopeLab developed a technological way to keep kids on the move while tracking this activity at the same time. The company’s gamification software is called Zamzee.
Gamification continues to grow in popularity as an innovative solution to problems in a wide variety of fields from education to healthcare. This rising interest has led to a number of published academic studies all asking the same question: Does gamification really work?
