Will a Wii Really Help You Get Fit?

You might think that the solution to improving your physical fitness lies in that shiny new video game just steps away from your couch. And you're certainly not alone, because fitness video games are undeniably popular. From the Wii Fit to the EA Sports Active, it's hard to resist the idea of playing your way to a smaller waistline. But do these games really work? That question is what led researcher Scott Owens (along with a team at the University of Mississippi) to try to determine if fitness-oriented video games can actually increase exercise and help combat obesity. The study's results, reported in ScienceDaily, indicate that the Wii Fit might not be as effective as you think.

The study's most interesting findings, after the jump...


1. The six-month study followed eight families who were loaned a Nintendo Wii for three months. Their fitness level was charted for the three months prior to receiving a Wii Fit, and then for the three months with it in the household. During that six-month period, each family was evaluated based on aerobic fitness, balance and body composition; in addition, the families' movement and physical activity was measured by an accelerator.

2. The study found that, over the three-month period with a Wii Fit in the house, children did display significant increases in aerobic fitness, but no significant changes in daily physical activity, muscular fitness, flexibility, balance or body composition for families as a whole.

3. Wii Fit use per household was minimal and declined significantly after the first six weeks, from 22 minutes per day to four minutes per day.

The researchers at the University of Mississippi concluded that Wii Fit ultimately had little impact on daily fitness. For a lot of families, getting a Wii Fit sounds an awful lot like getting that gym membership you don't really want -- after the novelty wears off, you're back to the same old habits. For a better alternative, try these six steps from fitness expert Kathleen Trotter for incorporating more exercise into your daily routine.