Wii Fit a promising tool for all ages

[Guest guest]

Wii Fit a promising tool for all ages

Game's health measurements flawed

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-01/ksu-wfa010609.php

While some emerging technologies can create environments that require

very little physical effort, one Kansas State University researcher

thinks games like Nintendo's Wii Fit can help promote physical rather

than sedentary activities for people of all ages.

" I think there is a great potential to develop ways to promote

physical activity through technology, " said Dzewaltowski,

professor and head of the department of kinesiology at K-State and

director of the university's Community Health Institute. " Kids

innately like to move, so I believe that there is a big future in

games that use emerging technologies and require movement because the

games will be enjoyed by children and also be more healthy than

existing games. "

In a commentary published in the October 2008 Exercise and Sport

Sciences Reviews, Dzewaltowski discussed how technology is changing

our everyday life and affecting our health.

Wii Fit has games that incorporate yoga, strength training, balance

and aerobics. The games are interactive and require the player to

physically move, which is better than nothing, Dzewaltowski said. It

uses a balance board and allows gamers to simulate challenges like

snowboarding down a mountain.

" Anything that gets people to move more than they have in the past is

positive, but if people are trying to replace physical activity that

demands more movement with the Wii, then that will be negative, "

Dzewaltowski said.

He said it is difficult in a small indoor space to replicate the

intensity of some real-life physical activities, though dance video

games are effective at demanding physical movements that require

caloric expenditure.

" The caloric expenditure demanded by an activity depends on the

energy necessary to move the body's weight to complete the task and

how long you perform the task, " Dzewaltowski said.

He added that different activities demand different amounts of

caloric expenditure, like playing a game of soccer, which demands

much more energy expenditure than bowling or playing the outfield in

baseball.

Dzewaltowski said Wii Fit can be an effective tool to create or

maintain a healthy lifestyle for some people because it follows the

basic principles for adhering to an exercise program, like having

physical activity goals, tracking those goals and evaluating the

progress.

Wii Fit measures players' body mass index, or BMI, which is a weight

evaluation based on height and weight. Dzewaltowski said this a good

screening tool for adults, meaning if the game categorizes them as

being overweight or obese, they should seek more information from a

health professional who can better evaluate the level of body fat.

However, he said the calculation is unsuitable for children.

" For children, the BMI calculation has to be expressed based on age

and gender growth charts, and it doesn't do that, " Dzewaltowski

said. " Due to children's age and gender differences in growth, the

adult BMI calculators don't work. My use of the Wii BMI calculator

showed that it was inappropriate for children and would categorize

children incorrectly. "

The game also gives players a Wii Fit Age, which is measured by the

player's BMI and their center of gravity and balance testing.

However, Dzewaltowski doesn't think the measurement is credible.

For personal goals, he said it is more important to focus on

behaviors such as physical activity and fruit and vegetable

consumption rather than the game's BMI and fitness age measurements.

Dzewaltowski said it could be healthy for gamers to solely rely on

Wii Fit for exercise if they are meeting the guidelines for physical

activity set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

He said future technologies should continue to promote physical

activity if they make exercise enjoyable, especially for adults.

" I also believe that adults enjoy movement if they are at a fitness

level where they can perform the activity comfortably, " Dzewaltowski

said. " The problem is most adults have very poor fitness levels. So,

I believe there is a future in developing games that include movement

and demand caloric expenditure at the level of the participant. "

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

I am 39 years old and have mild CMT Type 2A. I bought a Wii Fit

three months ago, and I absolutely LOVE it. It is really fun and

effective. I try to do all of the different activities, including

yoga, strength training, aerobics (love the rhythm boxing and hula

hoop) and balance exercises. It measures you every time you do

something, so you can tell when you are improving. My balance has

definitely gotten better. I've also lost weight and lowered my

cholesterol.

My 13-year-old nephew, whose CMT is much more severe than mine, used

it when he was visiting for the holidays. He really enjoyed it as

well. I think his father (my brother, who also has CMT) is going to

buy one for their family.

Just having the Wii console has been a blast, too. My husband and I

now play games together regularly (bowling, golf, baseball) - a really

fun new addition to our 12 years of marriage!

Best,

Suzanne

[Guest guest]

Suzanne,

I agree fully. We got the Wii for the kids for Christmas and managed to find a

FIT as well from the Airmiles site, as they were hard to find prior to the

holidays.

I have Type 1A and an also 39 years old. The boxing is a blast, I actually just

finished 30 minutes on the fit, sat down and say this email. I had to laugh,

since I just found the boxing yesterday. I like the soccer and the Advanced

step Aerobics. This has become a great tool for me as well. Keep it up.

Now the Fit aside, Cart has become my favorite. You can race online with

others around the world. Gets addictive though.

Happy New Year,

(Canada)

[Guest guest]

Since the machine & game are on the expensive side, you may want to see a video

of how it works before buying, to make sure it's something you can do.

 

I watched a video and determined it wouldn't be something I could do, but

everyone is different...so check it out, if you're interested.

 

Here's a video on youtube:

 

 

Also, if you would like a good chuckle, this parody video is pretty funny...

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iYBmAVuBns & NR=1

 

[Guest guest]

I watched the Wii Fit Utube video suggested by and agree that I would

not be successful with these exercises. However, I am 57 years old and my

CMT has progressed in the past couple of years. I would have benefited from

these exercise several years ago. Swimming, my home elliptical and biking

remain my best bets. Also, DVDs with modified Pilates and yoga poses work

for me.

Thanks .

J. Warren

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of

Graham

Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2009 11:43 AM

Subject: Re: Wii Fit a promising tool for all ages

Since the machine & game are on the expensive side, you may want to see a

video of how it works before buying, to make sure it's something you can do.

I watched a video and determined it wouldn't be something I could do, but

everyone is different...so check it out, if you're interested.

Here's a video on youtube:

Also, if you would like a good chuckle, this parody video is pretty funny...

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iYBmAVuBns & NR=1> & NR=1

[Guest guest]

FYI... there are many other exercises to the FIT then just the utube stuff.

Many are easy, and it has a whole yoga section. There are many that I stay away

from, but there are also many that I can do.

(Canada)