If
the invention of TV remote controls and video games ushered in the couch
potato lifestyle, could a similar device rescue us?
Nintendo's Wii, which debuted in late
2006, has grown in popularity, but is it a brilliant rescue device for the
overfed, a novelty that will soon fade in popularity, or a clever motivator
that appeals to the addictive and/or competitive personality?
Betting on the fact that Americans love their TVs (the average American
spends 19-25 hours per week in front of the screen!), Nintendo fashioned Wii
and Wii Fit with two major components: it has a competitive edge to keep the
user's interest and has the addictive qualities of a video game.
Depending on the activity you choose (Wii has tennis, baseball, boxing,
bowling & golf, and the upgrade Wii Fit features weight lifting, aerobics,
yoga, jogging, hula hoop, ski jumping, rhythm boxing and step aerobics), you
might be holding a wand-like device about the size of a remote control or
wearing wrist bands while standing on a surfboard-like balance board in
front of your TV. You simulate the movements and force of whatever activity
you are playing and the game console translates it onto an animated picture
on your TV screen.
"I
don't know if I'd use it every day due to lack of time, but it's awesome,"
says University of Wisconsin student and Wii user, Britny. "It beats cheesy
excercise videos any day! Do you think it's legitimate excercise to play Wii
fit?"
So, that's the question. Does it
work?
Research shows the majority of people
report they get a great work out from the Wii, but measuring their output
doesn't back up their perception.* While they may be working harder than if
they were playing a regular video game, their calorie-burning numbers were
nowhere near the range they'd achieve actually playing the real game.
For
instance, Wii Boxing burns 216 calories in 30 minutes, about 51 calories
more than walking. Real sparring would burn over 300 calories so the Wii
numbers are about 2/3 of what you'd burn actually doing the sport.*
Yoga and strength training have a
virtual 3D personal trainer so you can view what you're attempting from
every angle in real time, but the aerobics and balance games are less
structured. When you reach benchmarks, new difficulty levels become
available.
Advantages:
-
Study participants
reported the Wii encouraged them to try activities they ordinarily would
not attempt.
-
The games are simple to
use and done in the privacy of your living room.
-
It may be a stepping
stone to more effective gym workouts.
-
Some participants
reported using it more when it's prominently displayed in the living room
and hard to ignore.
Disadvantages:
-
You might get stuck in a
low-intensity rut and not even know it.
-
The games provide no
"real life" monitoring or attention from trained personnel - don't try it
if you have health problems or tend to visit the chiropractor often.
-
It's easy to lie to a
game or computer. Studies show approximately 95% of people lie when
inputting information into an online calculator like eDiets or Weight
Watchers! (The same problem showed up with another game, Ubisoft's My
Weight Loss Coach, which is a computerized accounting of food intake and
activity output.)
Summary:
-
If you use a Wii, know
that, while it's better than doing nothing, you still need to control the
intensity and constantly get better and stronger at it.
-
While the Wii can
supplement a more intensive workout routine, it does not burn nearly as
many calories. However, some users reported using Wii Fit energized them
and encouraged them to follow up with a visit to the gym. "I started using
it just to get used to moving again without the scrutiny of the gym,"
reported another U.W. student interviewed. "After just a few months, I
felt like I needed more of a workout so I "graduated" myself to the gym!"
-
It's easy to have fun
when playing a game. If games suit your personality, go for it!
-
If you tend to start and
stop exercise, the Wii probably won't be any different. A better approach
may be to figure out the sabotaging behavior's root cause and develop a
different attitude about yourself, exercise and eating healthfully.
The bottom line: any and all activity
is encouraged to offset today's sedentary lifestyles.
*
Study of the Nintendo Wii, sponsored by the American Council on Exercise and
conducted by John Pecori at The University of Wisconsin, La Crosse.
