Monday, November 16, 2009
Nintendo Wii Study Says Wii games DO offer benefical workout time
A Nintendo-funded study found that Wii Sports and Wii Fit games and related activities do in fact have the potential to engage users in moderate to intense physical activity. The study confirms that about one-third of the physical activity offerings through the Wii suite programs require an energy expenditure of 3.0 METS or above, which the American Heart Association (AHA) considers moderate activity. Some activities (single-arm stand in the Wii Fit) were found to require as much as 5.6 METs and 4.5 METs (Wii Sports Boxing). Six METs is considered vigrous activity. Study leaders also call on video game producers to create more physical active games to help combat rising obesity rates in both Japan and the U.S.
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Interesting timing given the release from the American Council on Exercise that found Wii Fit "underwhelming". It goes to show that a marginal product can be pushed either way depending on the objectives of the research question.
ReplyDeleteAs for "Study leaders also call on video game producers to create more physical active games", I would call on researchers to actually choose exergames, such as Gamercize, that clearly meet the MVPA.
I fail to see the point of pushing a marginal position with just one of the very many exergaming options.