Enough With the Wii Fitness Studies
By Jared Newman | Thursday, December 17, 2009 at 5:48 pm
Every week, it seems like there’s a new study that either praises or decries Nintendo’s Wii as a vehicle for getting into shape.
The most recent comes from the University of Mississippi. The study loaned Wii Fit units to eight families, who spent three months without the console and Balance Board, and three months using it. In conclusion, moderate Wii Fit use “may have provided insufficient stimulus for fitness changes,” said the study.
Nintendo would beg to differ. The company recently funded a study by the National Institute of Health and Nutrition in Tokyo, which found that a third of the games in Wii Fit and Wii Sports meet the American Health Association’s guidelines for moderate exercise.
Yet another recent study from the American Council on Exercise found that the Wii Fit provides “underwhelming” health benefits. However, ACE conceded that Wii Sports is more strenuous, and could help people meet minimum intensity guidelines for exercise.
Do we really need all these studies to declare whether the Wii is an exercise machine? Of course not. If you’re sweating a little after a round of Wii Sports Boxing, chances are you got some exercise. You also probably understand that it’s less of a work out than actual boxing, but it’s better than sitting on the couch. Duh.
The bigger problem with trying to quantify the Wii’s fitness value is that there are too many variables. You can play Wii Sports Tennis from your couch, or you can flail around like maniac. You can play Wii Fit every day for two months, and then never touch it again. Like any exercise, the Wii is totally dependent on what you put into it.
Indeed, the most important point in the University of Mississippi study is glossed over as an afterthought: After three months, the amount of time families spent playing Wii Fit dropped by 82 percent. Sounds a lot like my gym-going habits.
I can’t say it better than Kotaku editor Brian Crecente did in a Forbes feature on the matter: “What Nintendo did is they tapped into that desire people have to be healthier… Everyone wants to work out, but nobody really wants to put the effort into it.”
No amount of scientific fitness measurements can account for that.
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December 18th, 2009 at 8:34 am
Great story. I do agree Wii is what you put into it. The running, the yoga, the strength training, as well as everything on that machine gets me into a very healthy sweat. If I keep this up, I think the Wii will be successful with me, but like anything, to lose weight and to tone up takes work and dedication. Frankly, people do not want to work that hard or wait too long for results. We are in a now society where family’s want instant everything, including instant weight loss (hence, fad diets). I’m going to be patient, work out with Wii every morning, walk at lunch for three miles, and occasionally play family games together. It brings families together when they play together rather than constantly watching television and cultivating the bulge (which is preventing you from tying your shoes).
December 18th, 2009 at 9:09 am
Well said. The little guy has Wii fit and enjoys it, but each individual’s motivation to exercise is different.
December 18th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
“Do we really need all these studies to declare whether the Wii is an exercise machine? Of course not. If you’re sweating a little after a round of Wii Sports Boxing, chances are you got some exercise. You also probably understand that it’s less of a work out than actual boxing, but it’s better than sitting on the couch. Duh.” –made me laugh today!
Thank you! I also liked…
“Everyone wants to work out, but nobody really wants to put the effort into it.”
December 18th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Informative article! Yeah, people really Do want to workout without the main word: effort.
December 18th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
don’t have wii fit, pro’ly won’t ever get it. but, i’d pro’ly try it if one of my friends had it at their house.
December 18th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
With the advancement of technology we have started spending most of are time on PS3, Wii and browsing the net. I truly agree with the thought that all these studies are not required at all. It’s just a game which is developed by Nintendo and they are promoting it with as a game which can help you stay in shape…
It might definitely help you get out of your couch but it’s no comparison to actual physical exercise you need.
December 18th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
nice info. keep up the good job.
thanks for sharing.
December 19th, 2009 at 9:14 am
Great article. I completely agree.
And adding on to what you said, if people cared enough about getting fit, why spend $200-300 (not completely familiar with the price of a Wii and this game)? Really, if one just woke up twenty or thirty minutes earlier and went for a walk, a bike ride, or a jog, they would find MUCH more progress. Yes, swinging around a remote and jumping up and down on a pad might constitute as “exercise” but in order for it to make up for unhealthy diets and such, it would take an extremely large amount of time.
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