A series of studies have apparently determined that working out with your Wii won’t significantly improve your health or cardiovascular fitness levels.
A report over on the Standard-Examiner quotes Dale Wagner, health professor at Utah State University, who says that, “Nearly all of these research studies have a similar conclusion. The interactive video games increase heart rate and energy expenditure compared to sedentary computer games. However, the increase in heart rate with these games corresponds to only light to moderate intensity.”
That’s a rate increase of only 40-60% – where a proper workout should push your blood pumper over 60%. While standing on one foot on the Wii Balance Board might look cool, it’s not doing much else for you.
Admittedly, something like Wii Fit does focus more on toning routines and low impact exercises such as yoga – and functions arguably more as a supplementary or maintenance program than a one-stop fix for fatties.
A more interesting study might perhaps be made with Kinect’s catalogue of fitness titles. Personally, I couldn’t breathe after doing Your Shape: Fitness Evolved’s basic evaluation test.
Working out with the Wii won’t make you fit << Comments and views
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