Wii Fit Called 'A Very, Very Mild Workout' by Study

Wii Fit is a global phenomenon, selling over 20 million copies worldwide and drawing praise for making both kids and adults more active in their videogaming. The American Council on Exercise tapped the University of Wisconsin La Crosse Exercise and Health Program to study just how good the health benefits are for using the software.

The study of the game's six most aerobically challenging activities (Free Run, Island Run, Free Step, Advanced Step, Super Hula Hoop, and Rhythm Boxing) found that they were below the recommended fitness guidelines of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). They also discovered, not surprisingly, that real life step aerobics, running and boxing all burned more calories than their Wii Fit counterparts.

“Step aerobics is a very good workout,” said Dr. John Porcari, “but you typically step up onto a 6-inch high bench. In Wii Fit you step up onto the 1- or 1.5-inch balance pad so you’re burning far fewer calories than you would in an actual step aerobics class.”

The conclusion drawn by the study is that while Wii Fit is superior to normal sedentary gaming as far as fitness benefits, it should supplement rather than replace your normal workout activities.

“I guess anything is better than nothing, but we were a little bit underwhelmed with the exercise intensity of some of the exercises,” said Porcari. “The Wii Fit is a very, very mild workout.”

For better cardiovascular results, it's suggested that Wii Sports activities like tennis, boxing and bowling actually work better. “You’re better off doing Wii Sports than Wii Fit,” added Porcari. “In Wii Sports there’s more jumping around, and you’re not constrained by having to stand on the balance pad. I just think there’s much more freedom of movement and you get a better workout.”

You can wake us when they make a game that can help you learn t'ai chi or some such thing.