Food Battle: Game-Based Learning to Teach Healthy Eating Habits

Game-based learning has gained popularity in recent years, as it is an effective method to engage students and improve their learning experience. The present study aimed to investigate the use of game-based learning in teaching eating habits and health to elementary school students, focusing on nutrition and obesity. The study was part of a larger project to update elementary and high school teachers in Brazil on metabolism and obesity, linked to the World Health Organization (WHO) campaign entitled Beat Diabetes. Our research can be split into three methodological stages. In the first stage, we established the requirements for the topics covered in the game through meetings with experts in metabolism and obesity. The digital game was developed in the second stage using the Unity Engine and the C# language. The game was titled Food Battle and was inspired by another popular game called Plants vs. Zombies. In this game, the players had to choose healthy and unhealthy food options while fighting off junk food monsters. The third and final stage of the study was responsible for the verification, validation, and testing (VV&T) of the game. Programmers, computers, and medical teachers initially tested the Food Battle game. Then, the game was validated by its end-users, which included elementary and high school teachers and undergraduate students in biomedical sciences. The study's results showed a positive acceptance of the game as a teaching tool. The Food Battle game was playful, engaging, and effective in reaching various age groups of students. The use of games in education can offer various benefits to students, including increased motivation, engagement, and interest in the topic being taught. Additionally, games can assist teachers in the classroom by providing them with a tool that facilitates teaching complex issues such as obesity and healthy eating. The present study highlights the importance and benefits of games in education and how they can effectively improve the student learning experience. Food Battle has shown to be an engaging and effective tool for teaching students about healthy eating habits and the risks of obesity. Further research is needed to explore the potential of games in education and develop new tools to enhance student's learning experiences in different areas.