Motivating Teenagers’ Physical Activity through Mobile Games

This paper reports the design requirements of personalized mobile persuasive games to motivate teenagers to start and continue being physically active. Being physically active can lead to reduced risks of having weight and cardiovascular problems; however efforts in this direction had variable success. Designing technology that will be engaging and motivating for teenagers requires an understanding of the factors that contribute to behavior adoption in teenagers. To understand these, we approach the design from several theoretical models: Theory of Planned Behavior, Theory of Meaning Behavior, and Personality Theory. Mobile applications can help overcome barriers to exercise, such as transportation and access to facilities. They are also personal and pervasive. Games were chosen because they are perceived to be fun by teenagers. Results from our study are summarized, as well as lessons learned and future directions of this work.