The Nintendo Wii has always offered the added benefit of a low-impact workout. Now there’s Wii Fit, a $90 software-and-hardware bundle, the purpose of which is to get gamers to shed those unwanted pounds. The crucial component in the package is the Wii Balance Board, a hefty white-plastic slab that’s roughly the size of two bathroom scales and connects wirelessly to your Wii console. With its clean, minimalist design — it only has one (side-mounted) button — the board looks almost too nice to step on. Once you do, it can detect your weight and its internal accelerometers are sensitive enough to register the slightest shifts in your balance.

The Nintendo Wii Fit is less a videogame than an interactive fitness coach, it begins with an initial weigh-in. It determines your weight, center of balance (important for good posture), and body mass index. Your BMI — which will come as a horror to 90 percent of you — is relayed via a graph and an annoyingly perky synthesized voice. (You’ll also be given an opportunity to set a weight goal, tracked via on-screen calendar.)

After a couple of brief balance tests, Fit will also tell you what your “Wii Fit Age” is, but it’s a pretty bogus figure. The problem with the Wii Fit Age calculation — besides the suspenseful, stressful drum roll that leads up to the massive number flashing on the screen — is that some spurious methodology results in wild fluctuations. It could be plus-20 over your actual age one day and minus-10 on the next depending on which tests you perform. Our advice: don’t sweat over your Wii Fit Age.

 

The New Wii Fit Has Arrived…But How Good is it Really!
A recent study found that teenagers playing Wii games burnt over 50% more calories than when playing sedentary games. Add that up over a 12-hour gaming week and they’ll be burning nearly 2,000 extra calories.
The Wii Fit takes this further: it can sense how you’re standing and moving by measuring your balance point – and the better you do, the more exercises and games you will unlock. The supplied mini-games involving ski jumps, football headers and tightrope walking are great fun, and provide a muscular workout. “Traditionally, exercise has been seen as a solitary and boring activity,” says Robert Saunders, a Nintendo spokesman. “Wii Fit can change that. You get direct and instant feedback, and a lot more interactivity than with exercise DVDs.”
However, the games giant is keen to distance itself from any health claims. “We’re not saying that it will help you to shed tens of pounds or provide the solution to any health problems you might have,” says Saunders. And even the university research, which was funded by Nintendo, concluded that simply playing the Wii was not strenuous enough to count towards the government’s recommended amount of exercise for children of one hour every day. The Nintendo Wii Fit has four training categories aimed at improving players’ muscle condition, balance, flexibility and aerobic capacity. The big question however is “Does it make you fitter?”.
Well it’s probably too early to have any stats on that but why not try it for yourself and see. One thing I can guarantee is that you’ll have fun trying!.