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Lose Weight With Nintendo Wii Fit. Which Game Is Best?
Author: Raymond Hinish
Copyright (c) 2010 Raymond Hinish
Are you wondering just how effective the Wii Fit is at promoting weight loss? Over 21 million Americans have turned to Nintendo for their fitness needs since its launch in 2007. Although I am happy to see that families are at least trying to promote fitness in their household; but it begs the question, how effective is the Wii fit at burning calories and promoting weight loss?
The American Council on Exercise recently published a brief review of this topic and I wanted to provide you with some of the highlights. In the study, six Wii Fit activities were tested for how they impact caloric expenditure and cardiovascular fitness. Below, you will find the main findings:
1. Island Run & Free Run produce the best calorie burns, allowing the participants to reach 60% of their maximum heart rate. Both games burned approximately 5.5 calories per minute (165 calories/30 minutes).
2. Free Step burned 3.3 calories per minute (99 calories/30 minutes); Advanced Step burned 3.6 calories per minute (108 calories/30 minutes); Super Hula Hoop burned 3.7 calories per minute (111 calories/30 minutes); Rhythm Boxing burned 3.8 calories per minute (114 cals/30 minutes). 3. None of the tested games improved cardorespiratory endurance.
So, as you can see, the Wii Fit burns a modest number of calories compared to actual exercises in the field or gym. With that said, the simple fact that a child is actually performing some sort of physical activity rather than laying on a couch and twiddling their thumbs all night, is an improvement. Everything counts! More research is coming to light around a principle called Non-Exercise Activity Time (NEAT); the term NEAT includes all activity that occurs during the day that does not involve actual exercise. Studies show that fit people are more active all day long; they fidget, they stand, they walk, they sway...they just naturally move more! Although the Wii Fit would technically fall into the exercise realm; an argument could be made that the perception of play takes the stress out of the exercise label...resulting in instant NEAT. It is my belief that we should promote exercise on top of the Wii Fit, meaning that we should not rely on the Wii as our primary source of activity.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/lose-weight-with-nintendo-wii-fit-which-game-is-best-1855787.html
About the Author
Dr. Ray Hinish is a pharmacist and certified personal trainer who specializes in wellness and weight loss. He co-hosts the Cut the Fat Podcast and Your Prescription for Health radio show. He currently contributes to a
weight loss blog and weight loss podcast
as well as acts as one of Owings Mills Premier Personal Trainers. Dr. Ray is also the owner of the Your Prescription for Health Wellness Center and Natural Pharmacy.
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