Fitness group 'underwhelmed' by Wii Fit exercises
by Richard Mitchell 
{ Nov 11th 2009 at 6:30AM } 
The ACE noted that performing the real-life activity -- real boxing, step aerobics, running, etc. -- burns significantly more calories than their Wii Fit counterparts. As an example, the study notes that traditional boxing burns three times as many calories as Rhythm Boxing. That said, the study did note that Wii Fit burns twice as many calories as normal video games, and that's got to count for something.
Still, if you're looking to really feel the burn, the study concluded that Wii Sports "is a better option" for gamers looking to find a decent workout.
Source - ACEFitness.org -- Wii Fit - Or Just a Wee Bit? (PDF)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
WiredKnight: Keeper of Threads @ Nov 11th 2009 6:40AM
Wait, only twice as much as normal video games?
So, I can just play MW2 twice as much, and it'd be like a mild workout right?
alinos @ Nov 11th 2009 7:17AM
nope cos twice as much means it ends up with double the 160 :P
plus 160 over 30 minutes isnt much at all i wouldnt evene call it a mild workout
LegendaryRedass @ Nov 11th 2009 12:58PM
Apparently these idiots don't know a gimmick when they see one. Lol they actually thought this could be actual execise.
whistlepig @ Nov 11th 2009 6:43AM
what did anyone expect ? its a video game . DDR is a much better workout if you wanna exercise
The Baron @ Nov 11th 2009 8:38AM
Rock Band expert drums are pretty good too. It's like you're tired, but.. you're having fun!
rodjoh @ Nov 11th 2009 6:58AM
Yes, but they are only counting the cardio mini games which are obviously not Wii Fit's strenght. And obviously in real boxing burns more than a boxing mini game... geniuses...
oldkid @ Nov 11th 2009 7:13AM
It would be more relevant to consider the wii sports boxing mini games. According to the calorie meter that can be find @ wii.com, smashing bags in wii sports boxing for 25 minutes makes me burn something like 230 Kcal. And I feel it's quite a workout.
martyfarty389 @ Nov 11th 2009 7:50AM
Let's just say we got burned by wii fit.
Liquid man @ Nov 11th 2009 6:52PM
I see what you did there....
Danzaiver @ Nov 11th 2009 7:55AM
As a Wii Fit owner I can say it makes you sweat a lot. Specially when doing the Streng Excercises. Try doing the 100 push-ups challenge or the table challenge.
Most of these studies are like moronic, I don't need a PHd to find out those results.
Akio Morita ... Deader than you @ Nov 11th 2009 8:53AM
But do you actually need Wii Fit to do push ups?
Danzaiver @ Nov 11th 2009 10:24AM
LOL no I dont need a Wii fit for that. So, the wii fit is a waste of money? No if you like the game itself, I mean, is a game, if up to you if you like it or not or want to buy it.
mandark @ Nov 11th 2009 7:59AM
165 Kcal during a 30 minute workout ? Thats shockingly low !
I bet even fast walking beats it .
Im only in average shape and does 700 - 800 Kcal during my daily workout.
Ninjalawyer @ Nov 11th 2009 8:29AM
These numbers don't really seem that low to me. I only burn 300 or calories in a 30 minute run on the track. Plus, even if these numbers are low, they're still far better than nothing. Most people aren't choosing between WiiFit boxing and real boxing.
Mr Khan @ Nov 11th 2009 8:29AM
Haven't we tread this ground before, though? Wii Fit's strength isn't in the exercise itself, as the minigames are more about balance and coordination than anything, it's more a tool to be used as part of a broader lifestyle thing
That's why EA did EA Sports Active in the first place, because Wii Fit doesn't really cover these sorts of things
mandark @ Nov 11th 2009 8:58AM
Actually 165 Kcal in 30 minutes isnt that better than nothing.
Your pulse need to be above a certain level for at least 20 minutes for your workout to have any effect at all (unless your old or in a really bad shape).
working out at such a low intensity is basically a waste of time.
WiNG [XBL&Steam: WiNGSPANTT] from lifeinagame.com @ Nov 11th 2009 9:34AM
I always figured the benefit didn't come from the strength of the workout, but rather having a virtual person laugh at your weight and show you just how flabby you are.
Jaydrool the damager @ Nov 11th 2009 9:39AM
The problem with these types of idiotic studies is they're comparing it to the real world equivalent, instead of comparing it to the more likely alternative: sitting on one's couch for 10 hours of Killzone 2.
It's not a replacement, but it is a good alternative.
Shagittarius @ Nov 11th 2009 1:14PM
They did compare it to that in the article saying that playing Wii fit only burns twice as much as playing a traditional game like Killzone 2.
So if you played Wii fit for 30 minutes and Killzone 2 for an hour and a half, you lost more weight playing KZ2.
Jaydrool the damager @ Nov 11th 2009 3:50PM
Yeah, they add that in as a secondary comparison. The initial comparison, and the study states this, is comparing the events in the game to their real life counter parts.
It's a false comparison to begin with. The main focus of this study should be Wii Fit game vs normal games.
ducttapeBigSexy (PSN&XBL: ducttape12) @ Nov 11th 2009 9:54AM
I use DDR / Stepmania multiple times a week as a workout. I realize it's not quite as good as, say, swimming or running, but I've realized it's the only thing that I can get myself to do on a common basis. Something > Nothing.
So, sure, maybe Wii Fit isn't as useful as running 20 miles - but it's better than nothing.
Avatar @ Nov 11th 2009 1:03PM
You know what "It's better than nothing" really means, right? It means "I'm lazy"
Genome4824 @ Nov 11th 2009 2:35PM
The Balance Games are crap. The Stretching and Strength exercises work cause it's the exact same things you do during normal exercise. Pushups and Lunges etc are the same thing as when you are off the balance board. Except you don't have a timer telling you up and down.
Someone @ Nov 11th 2009 4:01PM
For some reason, these researchers haven't mentioned that half an hour of unarmed combat sparring/boxing every day not just burns one's fat fast, but also burns poor idiot's brains at the same rate, while "playing" wii fit is mostly harmless.
Other than boxing comparison, they're right - it's much better to train an hour a day and then play some good game for another hour than do some shitty wii-fit exercises for two hours.
HighFiveJesus @ Nov 11th 2009 11:10AM
cardio is not the answer to getting in shape. you need to lift some weights while engaging in a lot of exercise working your legs and stomach.
once you are back in shape, the cardio will help you tone and lean up your muscle but it will not help you lose weight.
tyoungbe @ Nov 11th 2009 11:33AM
Why didn't they test Wii Fit plus? Then they wouldn't have had to use those "scientific" methods to measure the calories. They could have used the in-game meter which confirmed the same thing to me when I first got it. But plus also added a boatload of new aerobic exercises that are much better than the first game, but still don't burn much by themselves, thats why it suggests creating a workout including many of these games together.
emperorzeroxx @ Nov 11th 2009 12:24PM
1 hour of DDR on heavy is like 12 hours in wii fit, indeed it is extraordinarily mild exercise. Cardio is the only thing that matters when burning calories....
nintendoid loyd @ Nov 11th 2009 12:30PM
how can wii sports burn more? unless your doing way ott waggles and running the risk of injury to self and living room?
tuunicopapi @ Nov 15th 2009 7:29PM
the way i see it, Wii fit is supposed to encourage you to go out and exercise FOR REAL. well it's supposed to encourage those who don't exercise for the most part.
Drakkenfyre @ Nov 11th 2009 12:24PM
I think someone above has it right. Compared to real life stuff, not so much, compared to what you would be doing anyway, sitting, it helps.
Matt @ Nov 11th 2009 4:24PM
What about Strength building and endurance? I mean, it's not really an aerobic game!
SoshiKitai @ Nov 11th 2009 7:03PM
"As an example, the study notes that traditional boxing burns three times as many calories as Rhythm Boxing."
Uhhh... no duh?
This just in: Reading the actual book takes one hundred times longer to read than just the back of a book.
SoshiKitai @ Nov 11th 2009 7:07PM
Just to clarify: I love Wii Fit, and it's underrated by many who don't believe it works at all. But I never have once thought that Wii Fit was better than actually running outside or boxing.
Those who got Wii Fit were there for the casual exercising than an actual forced fat-burning experience.
It's better than sitting around, but what makes it special is: It encourages you to actually exercise since it doesn't exhaust you as much and it actually is fun in certain ways. ...eventually it can lead you to a healthy lifestyle if you like sticking to it.
partner @ Nov 12th 2009 1:15AM
I rarely do the aerobics, but the strength training exercises are hard. Try making a half hour continuous set of (pushup/side plank/plank/lunge/etc.) in Wii Fit Plus.
The only one that doesn't really do anything is the tricep curl, but that's easily fixed by adding weights. And the squats are just plain miscalibrated, as far as I can tell, but you can more or less fix that by shifting position after the calibration countdown.
I think the fun/incentive aspect shouldn't be overlooked. Wii Fit tricked me into learning all of the yoga poses because I just wanted to unlock them and get the highest ranking.
A game that tries to level *you* up is a brilliant idea. I just wish I got gold, XP, upgrades and loot rather than "Wii Fit Credits."
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Steven @ Nov 25th 2009 5:28AM
It was on the news last week that the under performing school kids who wern't very good at PE were given Wii Fits instead! So in their gym they have several HDTVs and some Wii Fits!
I can't believe it. The whole point of sport is that it roughens you up and you make friendships. I can understand that someone don't like sport, but there is truly a sport for everyone so I think they should find a sport (such as badminton) they like - instead of playing Wii Fit.
Wii Fit is ok for home, it's fun but it's not exactly exercise to rival real sport!
For those casual gamers... My Voucher Codes are giving away a Wii Fit board today, it's free to enter and you'll find out instantly if you've won. (I didn't, bah)
http://www.myvouchercodes.co.uk/free-giveaway