EA Sports Active is actual, proper, real exercise, says official study

3 June 2010

While Wii Fit’s previously been under some fire for its general uselessness, apparently EA Sports Active is the real thing. Well, next to actually getting out of your house in sweatpants, anyway. According to a study over at the University of Wisconsin, commissioned by EA, the game passed the American College of Sports Medicine’s fitness guidelines, qualifying as an authentic workout.

ACSM guidelines recommend that a workout keep the heart rate at 64-94% of maximum, with 40-85% of maximal oxygen consumption, and burn 200-300 calories per session. The study tested 16 adults between the ages of 25 and 45, doing the Afterburner and Legs & Lungs workout sets, and both of these consistently fulfilled the stipulated requirements.

“We believe that exercise should be a part of every individual’s daily life, and our digital fitness programs are designed to help people make that belief a reality,” says EA Sports Active executive producer Tarrnie Williams. “We wanted to put EA Sports Active to the test to show people that as fun as the programs can be, they’re going to give you a real, challenging workout.”

Well, I don’t know about “fun”. I tried out EA Sports Active once, and didn’t walk properly for three days.

Discuss EA Sports Active in the forums

You have read 1 out of 5 free articles. Log in or register for unlimited access.

Read now

The best gaming website in South Africa
MyGaming proudly displays the “FAIR” stamp of the Press Council of South Africa, indicating our commitment to adhere to the Code of Ethics for Print and online media which prescribes that our reportage is truthful, accurate and fair. Should you wish to lodge a complaint about our news coverage, please lodge a complaint on the Press Council’s website, www.presscouncil.org.za or email the complaint to [email protected] Contact the Press Council on 011 4843612.