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Home > Blogs > Here's the Deal > Archives > 2009 > November > 13 > Entry
Study: Wii Fit best at virtual weight loss
I have heard many friends mention that the Wii Fit system is on their holiday wish lists, and I had heard from others that owned the video game that it did provide a good workout.
However, a new study begs to differ. It suggests that the game might not be what you need if actual fitness is your goal.
A study by The American Council on Exercise, conducted in cooperation with the University of Wisconsin La Crosse Exercise and Health Program, found that Wii Fit produced “underwhelming results.”
Researchers tested the most aerobically challenging activities and found that in all cases, performing an actual exercise activity rather than Wii Fit’s virtual approximation resulted in “significantly higher” caloric expenditure.
And, as noted by The Consumerist, the Wii Fit’s most effective weight-loss tool may be its fattening and thinning of your Mii avatar depending on your body mass index.
So, maybe the game isn’t the best use of your funds in this tighter holiday season. And at least sit-ups and running around the block are still free.
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment | Categories: Consumer interest, Savings, Thanksgiving and Christmas
Comments
By Scott
November 13, 2009 3:29 PM | Link to this
The problem isn’t caloric expenditure it’s getting motivated to exercise. If people are able to spend a few hundred dollars once to work out from home, as opposed to working out at (an overpriced) gym, then maybe that will help people at least start exercising.
By Gina
November 14, 2009 12:59 AM | Link to this
It is just a fad for fat people. It is no different than the gym membership, the treadmill, the stairstepper, or the weight bench that fat people buy with good intention. They use it for a month or two and before you know it, there they sit collecting dust. Wii just makes being fat easier to accept.
By James
November 14, 2009 3:12 AM | Link to this
Don’t knock it until you try it. I’ve lost 30 pounds since I started working out on the Wii Fit. Like anything, if you stick to it, and are willing to try exercises that you might not enjoy, you’ll eventually see results. I haven’t felt this good in years! Thanks Wii Fit!
By Chris
November 14, 2009 10:39 AM | Link to this
Expert opinions are questioning the validity of this study. Besides, there’s a conflict of interest - the American Council on Exercise is primarily funded by selling personal training certifications. The more people work out at home, the less need for certified trainers. Any low contact exercise is good exercise, and it’s better than twittling your thumbs for hours on other game systems.
By Joe Smith
November 15, 2009 9:56 AM | Link to this
Um the article title says wii best at weight loss but the article is all about saying the wii is useless and nothing about comparing to other things and why the wii is best at weight loss like the title says
By Shannon
November 16, 2009 9:08 AM | Link to this
The Wii Fit was a great start for me to get active on my weight loss journey, particularly in the winter. It motivated me to get started at a gym. Now that I am hooked at the gym, the wii fit gathers dust, but it did serve a very good purpose.