Gaming for health

Samuel Pagan played sports in high school but has found it challenging to stay active as an adult.

"When there isn't a requirement to stay consistently active, or when I get really busy, I tend to stop focusing on my health," he said.

The 23-year-old graduate student from Florida, who was diagnosed with autism three years ago, isn't alone. Research shows adults with autism are less physically active than those without the neurodevelopmental disorder.

"Autistic individuals tend to have low intrinsic motivation for exercise and physical activity partially due to sensory sensitivity in public settings like going to the gym and challenges with social interactions," said Daehyoung "DH" Lee, assistant professor of health behavior and nutrition sciences at the University of Delaware College of Health Sciences. "They thrive on routine and familiarity that aligns with their preference."

Their affinity for routine and technology sparked Lee's interest in using gaming to encourage healthier behaviors. Last fall, Lee launched a pilot study into the gamified mobile health app PuzzleWalk, created in UD's Physical Activity and Technology for All (PATA) Lab. The game combines "spot-the-difference" puzzles with step-counting goals and incentives.