Not yet, at least. We hear so much about how the Nintendo Wii's wand wiggling could benefit a player's physical fitness, but a new study says that it may not benefit us as much as we originally thought.
Dalhousie University student Justin White decided to test the Wii's fitness ability against other activities, and he found that it might not be the best choice for cardiovascular exercise.
Thirty minutes of Wii Sports' boxing was compared to 30 minutes of walking and a 30-minute session of a boxercise video. Several students were tested, and heart rates were monitored.
While Wii boxing did more for the cardiovascular system than walking, it couldn't match the boxercise session. They advise looking past the Wii for a good workout, though they did say that the Wii could be a good starting point for those looking to lose weight.
Surely the upcoming Wii Fit (updated boxing in the above video) will provide more in terms of a good cardio workout. Unfortunately, the only way I'll play Wii Fit is if the balance board is modified to be able to control something like a strategy RPG. Wouldn't that be great?
Do you think the typical Wii game provides any real health benefit?
[Via M&C -- Thanks, JR]
Dale North is Destructoid's Editor-In-Chief, a founding editor, and specialist in Japanese gaming. An accomplished musician, Dale was reporting from Japan during the earthquakes of 2011. Luckily, he got the fuck out alive and is home in America now with his wife and beloved corgi, Einstein. Dale is also a co-founder of Destructoid's sister anime site
Japanator. Likes Corgis, Sega Saturn, PSP, iPhone, Photographic tools.
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Contest:
6:08 PM on 01.24.2008
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You're already stupid.
There was an article in the most recent Game Informer, wherein a reviewer played Wii Fit for a certain amount of time (I forget) every day for 5 days. He ended up losing about...5 pounds or so?
Those who complain that kisd these days are fat because of video games finally have evidence against them!
If those statistics are accurate, I gotta call BS on that article. No one loses 5 pounds in 5 days unless they're cheating (as in only chewing gum). Certainly no normal person playing the Wii is going to lose that much weight in such a short amount of time.
Anyway, agree that the Wii has at least some physical benefit, but anyone who thinks it's a substitute for real exercise is fooling themselves.
Haha, I never said they were accurate! I'm just reporting on what I said! Don't shoot the messenger! :D
And yes, the Wii is NO substitute for real excercise...but hey, at least it's fun. Right?
I'm actually excited for Wii Fit, but I plan on using it in addition to my workout regimen at the gym.
They compare Wii to exercise which is dumb. Who is silly enough to think that wiggling around substitutes for a good exercise like running, sports, etc (you know the ones that actually make you sweat).
That doesn't mean Wii isn't a cool benefit. Compare someone playing 1/2 hour of Wii boxing a day to someone playing nothing. Or what about 2 people who both go to the gym and exercise but one who plays Wii boxing and one who doesn't.
The point is: It's a good source of *additional* physical activity rather than being a blob on a couch.
I don't think it's impossible, but it really ends up depending on how much he changed his eating habits and how much time was used, I mean sure 30 mins of walking won't be the same as 30 mins playing on the Wii, but it might get near that with 2,or perhaps 3 or 4, hours of playing.
And it's probably more of an exercise if you exaggerate your movements like the guys on the commercials =P.
Can't we just enjoy the Wii and its games for what they are? Fun.
If you read above..it said Wii Boxing was better than Walking. Walking for 30 minutes a day is fairly good exercise especially when compared to 30 minutes of On-Your-Ass-Sitting.
Meh, i play it for the games anyway.
Yes, you have to constantly walk in place just like your soldiers on the screen, otherwise you lose. Think of it as... leading the troops.
You do the yoga, your core and abs will improve.
Stretches will improve your posture and flexibility, squats will improve your hamstrings, lateral raises will improve you core as well.
These things are hard. All of them are in Wii Fit. Seriously, we know almost nothing about this game, and you could find out it does a really good job of getting people more fit or ready to become more fit.
I swear, most people on Destructoid, including myself, could be more fit. anything helps. That's why I want to get Wii Fit. Let's see what it does.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdsU8PCmCN8
I would like to claim the Wii is detrimental to my health, as I have whipped myself in the forehead with the nunchuck cable and punched myself in the balls while playing Dragonball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3.
LULZ.