Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40551019›Full record

Trial reportNature medicine2025

An adaptive AI-based virtual reality sports system for adolescents with excess body weight: a randomized controlled trial.

Jihong Wang, Yiming Qin, Qian Wu, Dian Zeng, Xiaojing Gao, Qinyi Wang, Zhen Li, Yueqiong Ni, Haoxuan Li, Ping Zhang and 78 more

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Nature medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
15citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

15 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Effects of obesity on brain health and cognition.Nature reviews. Neurology · 2026
    Review
  4. Article
  5. Review
  6. Review
  7. Review
  8. Review
  9. Review
  10. Sarcopenia and MASLD: novel insights and the future.Nature reviews. Endocrinology · 2026
    Review
  11. State of clinical AI in 2026.BMJ digital health & AI · 2026
    Review
  12. Article
  13. Review
  14. Article
  15. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

88 authors.

Jihong Wang *The Consortium for Digitalized and Intelligent Physical Education Assessment and Application, School of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Electronic, Information, and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Yiming Qin *The Consortium for Digitalized and Intelligent Physical Education Assessment and Application, School of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Electronic, Information, and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8831-1644
Qian Wu *The Consortium for Digitalized and Intelligent Physical Education Assessment and Application, School of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Electronic, Information, and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Dian Zeng *Tsinghua Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5592-9584
Xiaojing Gao *Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
Qinyi Wang *The Consortium for Digitalized and Intelligent Physical Education Assessment and Application, School of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Electronic, Information, and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Zhen Li *The Consortium for Digitalized and Intelligent Physical Education Assessment and Application, School of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Electronic, Information, and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Yueqiong Ni *The Consortium for Digitalized and Intelligent Physical Education Assessment and Application, School of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Electronic, Information, and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1285-7354
Haoxuan Li *School of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
Ping Zhang *Department of Computer Science and Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4601-0779
Jingyi Guo *Clinical Research Center, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Weizhi MaInstitute for AI Industry Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5604-7527
Mamatkasim MaitusunHotan District Secondary Vocational and Technical School, Hotan, China.
Xufeng JinShanghai Baoshan High School, Shanghai, China.
Minghong ChenShanghai Qiuzhen Middle School, Shanghai, China.
Liping ZhuShanghai Baoshan High School, Shanghai, China.
Qin LuShanghai Baoshan High School, Shanghai, China.
Qiandi ChenShanghai Qiuzhen Middle School, Shanghai, China.
Yuna WuShanghai Baoshan High School, Shanghai, China.
Chengxiang LinShanghai Qiuzhen Middle School, Shanghai, China.
Rui HanThe Consortium for Digitalized and Intelligent Physical Education Assessment and Application, School of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Electronic, Information, and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Di ChengThe Consortium for Digitalized and Intelligent Physical Education Assessment and Application, School of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Electronic, Information, and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Jiacheng NiThe Consortium for Digitalized and Intelligent Physical Education Assessment and Application, School of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Electronic, Information, and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Xiaochun WangSchool of Psychology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
Fangshu YaoSchool of Psychology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
Jie ZhuangSchool of Psychology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
Jun XiaSchool of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
Dan LiuThe Consortium for Digitalized and Intelligent Physical Education Assessment and Application, School of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Electronic, Information, and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Yuwei LuThe Consortium for Digitalized and Intelligent Physical Education Assessment and Application, School of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Electronic, Information, and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Piao KangThe Consortium for Digitalized and Intelligent Physical Education Assessment and Application, School of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Electronic, Information, and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Shujie YuThe Consortium for Digitalized and Intelligent Physical Education Assessment and Application, School of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Electronic, Information, and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Anran ChenThe Consortium for Digitalized and Intelligent Physical Education Assessment and Application, School of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Electronic, Information, and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Ying ZhangThe Consortium for Digitalized and Intelligent Physical Education Assessment and Application, School of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Electronic, Information, and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Qian LiThe Consortium for Digitalized and Intelligent Physical Education Assessment and Application, School of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Electronic, Information, and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Wenli GeThe Consortium for Digitalized and Intelligent Physical Education Assessment and Application, School of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Electronic, Information, and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Xiaoxue LongThe Consortium for Digitalized and Intelligent Physical Education Assessment and Application, School of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Electronic, Information, and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Zehua JiangSchool of Clinical Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
Zhouyu GuanThe Consortium for Digitalized and Intelligent Physical Education Assessment and Application, School of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Electronic, Information, and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0008-5102-0067
Zihao JinThe Consortium for Digitalized and Intelligent Physical Education Assessment and Application, School of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Electronic, Information, and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Pengfei JinChina Table Tennis College, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
Tingyao LiThe Consortium for Digitalized and Intelligent Physical Education Assessment and Application, School of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Electronic, Information, and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Jia ShuThe Consortium for Digitalized and Intelligent Physical Education Assessment and Application, School of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Electronic, Information, and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Jiale YangThe Consortium for Digitalized and Intelligent Physical Education Assessment and Application, School of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Electronic, Information, and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Jinyang WangSchool of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
Nan JiangSchool of Healthcare Management, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
Jing QianDepartment of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
Younhyun JungSchool of Computing, Gachon University, Seongnam, Korea.
Han ZhangShanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
Qing YangSchool of Biomedical Engineering & State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
Lifei MaThe Consortium for Digitalized and Intelligent Physical Education Assessment and Application, School of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Electronic, Information, and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Xiaomeng WuThe Consortium for Digitalized and Intelligent Physical Education Assessment and Application, School of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Electronic, Information, and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Xiaojun HuangThe Consortium for Digitalized and Intelligent Physical Education Assessment and Application, School of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Electronic, Information, and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Dongyang SiThe Consortium for Digitalized and Intelligent Physical Education Assessment and Application, School of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Electronic, Information, and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Jie RenSchool of Psychology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
Hui QiaoDepartment of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4896-8657
Yuchen GuoDepartment of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
Zhifeng HuangOujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision, and Brain Health) and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8269-6731
Wenxiao WangFaculty of Information Technology, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao, China.
Weihong DengSchool of Information and Communication Engineering, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing, China.
Lei BiInstitute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Danyue ZhaoDepartment of Food Science and Nutrition, Research Institute for Future Food, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
Yuehua LiRadiology Department, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China.
Rynson W H LauDepartment of Computer Science, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
Yih-Chung ThamDepartment of Ophthalmology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6752-797X
Xindong MaDivision of Sports Science & Physical Education, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
Jing MaTsinghua Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
Dinggang ShenShanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7934-5698
Songhai ZhangBNRist, the Department of Computer Science and Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0460-1586
Haibing GuanDepartment of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Electronic, Information, and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Weiwen ZouState Key Laboratory of Advanced Optical Communication Systems and Networks, Intelligent Microwave Lightwave Integration Innovation Center (iMLic), Department of Electronic Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Minyi GuoDepartment of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Electronic, Information, and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Xinping GuanDepartment of Automation, School of Electronic, Information, and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Xiaokang YangInstitute of Image Communication and Network, School of Electronic, Information, and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4029-3322
Aimin XuState Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0668-033X
Jiarui WuNational Facility for Protein Science in Shanghai, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
Gianni PanagiotouDepartment of Microbiome Dynamics, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Leibniz-Hans Knöll Institute, Jena, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9393-124X
Michael Andrew TseState Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
Jinman KimSchool of Computer Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Enhua WuState Key Lab of Computer Science, Institute of Software, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China, and Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau, Macau Special Administrative Region, China.
Daniel ThalmannSchool of Computer and Communication Sciences, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Nadia Magnenat ThalmannMIRALab, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1459-5960
Felipe FregniNeuromodulation Center and Center for Clinical Research Learning, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Tien Yin WongSingapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Center, Singapore, Singapore.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8448-1264
Weiping JiaThe Consortium for Digitalized and Intelligent Physical Education Assessment and Application, School of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Electronic, Information, and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6244-2168
Rong ZengShanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China. zengrong@shanghaitech.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0685-4333
Chwee Teck LimDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore. ctlim@nus.edu.sg.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4019-9782
Bin ShengThe Consortium for Digitalized and Intelligent Physical Education Assessment and Application, School of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Electronic, Information, and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. shengbin@sjtu.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8510-2556
Huating LiThe Consortium for Digitalized and Intelligent Physical Education Assessment and Application, School of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Electronic, Information, and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. huarting99@sjtu.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0526-5545

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Adolescents with obesity face numerous health risks and encounter barriers that lead to physical inactivity. We developed a virtual reality sports system, named REVERIE (Real-World Exercise and VR-Based Exercise Research in Education), which used deep reinforcement learning to train transformer-based virtual coaching agents, offering immersive and effective sports guidance, with biomechanical performance comparable to real-world physical sports. We integrated REVERIE into a randomized controlled trial involving an 8-week intervention in adolescents with excess body weight (n = 227). Participants were randomized (1:1:1:1:1) to physical table tennis, physical soccer, REVERIE table tennis, REVERIE soccer or control. REVERIE sports intervention was effective in reducing primary outcome fat mass (mean -4.28 kg (95% confidence interval (CI) -6.35 to -2.22), relative to control), with no significant difference compared with physical sports (mean -5.06 kg (95% CI -7.13 to -2.98), relative to control). For secondary outcomes, decreases in liver enzymes and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were found in physical and REVERIE sports groups compared to control. Physical and REVERIE sports showed improvements in physical fitness, psychological well-being and sports willingness after an 8-week intervention, which remained at the 6-month follow-up in the REVERIE sports group. REVERIE sports demonstrated superior cognitive enhancements compared to physical sports in exploratory analyses, as evidenced by olfactory tests (total score: mean 2.84 (95% CI 1.15 to 4.53)) and working memory paradigm (2-back accuracy: mean 10.88% (95% CI 1.19% to 20.56%)). Functional magnetic resonance imaging exhibited that REVERIE sports enhanced neural efficiency and neuroplasticity. Multi-omics analyses revealed distinct changes induced by REVERIE sports that were closely associated with cognitive improvement. Minimal injury rates were 7.69% for REVERIE and 13.48% for physical sports, with no serious adverse events. Collectively, this study demonstrates that the virtual reality sports therapy could provide an empathetic approach to addressing adolescent obesity, offering comprehensive improvements in physical, psychological and cognitive health beyond mere weight loss. Clinical Trial registration: ChiCTR2300068786 .

Indexed as

Exercise TherapyOverweightPediatric ObesitySportsVirtual RealityAdolescentExerciseFemaleHumansMale

Identifiers

PMID40551019
PMCPMC12283417

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.