Study Questions Wii Fit Benefits
SportsOneSource Media
The American Council on Exercise (ACE) released the results of a study questioning the benefits of Nintendo’s Wii Fit. Researchers found the energy expended from Wii Fit exercises fell below physical activity guidelines set by the American College of Sports Medicine. The exercises also resulted in fewer calories burned compared to performing the actual activity.
Conducted with the help of the University of Wisconsin La Crosse Exercise and Health Program, the study used 16 volunteers, both male and female between the ages of 20-24 to measure the effectiveness of the Wii Fit. After each volunteer’s fitness baseline was set, the group participated in six of the game’s most challenging aerobic activities: Free Run, Island Run, Free Step, Advanced Step, Super Hula Hoop and Rhythm Boxing.
The study, funded by Wii maker Nintendo, shows that about one-third of the virtual games and activities in the Wii sports video and fitness packages require the same energy expenditure as moderate-intensity exercise.
“Current guidelines recommend that people engage in moderate exercise like walking or doubles tennis about 30 minutes a day, five days a week, to prevent heart disease and stroke,” Miyachi tells WebMD. These games may be one way to achieve that goal, says Miyachi, who says he breaks a sweat when playing virtual tennis and basketball.
The new study was presented at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association (AHA).
Wii Fit’s Island Run and Free Run burned the most calories after 30 minutes of activity (165 calories), followed by Rhythm Boxing (114 calories) and Super Hula Hoop (111 calories).
