Abstract—Obesity is one of the rise and among the top health
risk factors in the world affecting people of all ages. It can lead to
many problems including increased risk of cardiovascular disease,
diabetes, functional limitations, and disabilities which adversely
affect the social and physical abilities of the obese person in daily
affairs. While the rising trend of obesity in adults is a serious
problem, the rise of obesity in youths is even more severe. Various
recent studies have indicated that youth obesity has become so
widespread that, if left unaddressed, it would have severe
implications on the society health, productivity, and economy.
This paper proposes a multiplayer ubiquitous gaming system
which unveil the hidden potential within obese youth and improve
their skills and physical activities and get them healthy. This is
intended to be done through the use of mobile wireless sensors, to
provide real time monitoring of the patient bio signals and to
suggest suitable actions in terms of physical activity. The system is
aimed to engage and encourage youth, particularly in the State of
Qatar, in their obesity rehabilitation process, increase their social
activities, and help them get healthy in an entertaining way while
reinforcing positive exercise habits.
Keywords—ubiquitous; obesity; rehabilitation; game; physical;
wireless sensor network.
I. INTRODUCTION
Obesity, defined by a Body Mass Index (BMI) of higher
than 30 kg/m2 [1], can lead to problems including increased
risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and insulin
resistance. In addition, it leads to psychosocial problems,
functional limitations, and disabilities which adversely affect
the social and physical abilities of the obese person in daily
affairs. Unfortunately, obesity is on the rise and among the top
health risk factors in the Arabic Gulf and North America,
affecting children of all ages, men, women, and ethnic groups
[2]. While this rising trend for adults is a serious problem, the
critical is the rise of obesity in youths.
Various recent studies have indicated that youth obesity has
become so widespread that it would soon have severe
implications on our society’s health, productivity, and
economy. The study in [3] shows that, for the first generation
in modern history, children will have a shorter life expectancy
than their parents, due to the said health problems. The main
reasons for this rise in obesity are: genetics, unhealthy
nutrition, and lack of physical inactivity. In fact, young people
eat unhealthier food and sit for hours and hours in front of a TV
or computer screen than ever. Another facet of this problem, as
examined by Duke University, is that overweight youth suffer