Wii Fit just a game after all
The Wii Fit Balance Board – just for fun
Bad news for unfit gamers: turns out that for the most part we’re kidding ourselves that the Wii Fit actually improves our physical fitness.
A study by academics at the University of Mississippi in the US has concluded that Nintendo’s activity-based software – which is recommended by the NHS – “has little effect” on fitness.
Wii Fit has been hugely successful on the back of Nintendo’s promise that it delivers family fun while also building fitness levels. But the researchers have concluded that the amount of time the average person spends using the system won’t lead to any real benefit.
The researchers gave eight families a Wii and a copy of Wii Fit and tracked their fitness levels for a period of three months while using the system. They observed the average amount of time spent on Wii Fit every day fell from 22 minutes at the beginning to just four minutes by the end – an amount nowhere near enough to lead to any lasting benefit. Boo!
User comments (5)
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Jon16 December 2009
Hang on though, didn't your test a couple of seasons ago show a proven improvement in fitness by Suzi?
Report as inappropriateWill16 December 2009
This study is rubbish. It's like saying jogging isn't good for you. I did a study and at the start of the test the participants jogged for 20 minutes after 3 months they weren’t bothering and they hadn’t got any fitter.
Report as inappropriateGraham18 December 2009
I agree with the last comment. It's no different to most excercise bikes and other fitness equipment that ends up in the back of a cupboard after a month or so. It should be written on the boxes of all fitness devices - 'Willpower and Discipline NOT Included'.
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Noel Ryan22 December 2009
I agree with the previous two posters - the only thing that this study proved is that if people don't exercise they don't get fit. The Wii Fit IS a great way to be active and have fun at the same time. The benefits derived from it are directly proportional to the amount of effort you put in. This is a pointless study and reporting on it is a waste of time!
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