On the contrary, Nintendo is contributing to the epidemic of obesity. Young and old are putting away their gym clothes and shying away from going outdoors to play sports, because the addictive appeal to the Wii game products. Just as the tobacco companies created such a false image of their products and hid the potential dangers, so is Nintendo," says Torchia.
More at Kotaku: Wii Fit Target Of Class Action Lawsuit
This is kind of dumb, people tend to be shut-ins these days, Nintendo seems to just be offering a way for those reluses to get some much needed excercise. Who the hell knows, personally, i don’t get out to jog during the winter because I hate jogging in the cold, Wii Fit gives me something to do till spring, oh the horror.
I’ll go you one better - this is asinine. So far as I know, Wii Fit goes out of its way not to make any health claims at all. I don’t understand what these people could even try to sue over.
Are they adding the publishing industry (damn those books, reading is so sedentary) and for that matter the housing industry (without them, we’d be fit and healthy nomads) to the list of respondents? Hm.
Have you guys really not heard people refer to Wii Fit as an exercise? I had to disabuse my nongamer friends of that notion long ago but I still occasionally hear it from the unwashed masses in Gamestop.
Why is it not exercise? The balance games may be questionable, but any of the other activities certainly can be used to either increase flexibility, increase heart rate, or even increase strength. Is it a true replacement for a full exercise regimen, no, but then again, I can do the strength exercise, maybe add a kettle bell or some hand weights for extra resistance and certainly feel some effects. The cardiovascular exercises are very light, but if you are dealing with users who may not get off the couch, even fake punching, running in place, or even swinging the hips is some activity.
My primary care doctor is very interested in how the Wii Fit can be incorporated in some of his patients care. Especially if it has any incentive to help get people up and moving.
My ex considers the Wii Fit exercise, but that’s because it’s paired up with a regimen she does at her gym and she primarily does the strength training routines, which include 100 jack knives a day and the push up/sideplank challenge. I’d say that that stuff is as good an exercise as you’re apt to get at home. But she’s got no illusions that she can do the dancing thing and the hula hoop game and do some of the balance stuff and will up and lose 20 lbs.
For the most part, the best part of the Wii Fit is the fact that it allows her to set a goal, track her weight over time and the amount of time she puts into her exercising.
