“Active” Gaming No Replacement for Exercise
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If you thought that playing the Nintendo Wii was exercise enough… you’ll want to put the Wii remote as well as that cupcake and keep on reading.
According to BBC News playing “active” games is no substitute for exercise, also check out the following quote…
“Wii players used only 2% more energy than players of regular computer games.”
How can this be? I’ll admit… I thought a person used a lot more energy than that - especially playing Wii Sports.
So do you guys think that playing “active games” is enough exercise? Feel free to comment and let me know your feelings on this matter.
Posted By Jeremy on 12/21/2007 5:51 pm
December 21st, 2007 at 9:15 pm
As an active player of the Wii and Xbox 360, to me there really isn’t any difference. I mean,when me and a friend get into playing some tennis or something, yeah we get SOME exercise, but from what I understad you need to do an exercise for a sustained period of time, to be effective. Wii games just don’t last long enough for this to be effective.
December 22nd, 2007 at 2:18 am
put the wii remote and the cup cake where?
December 23rd, 2007 at 7:07 pm
The Wii doesn’t even demand much physical output anyway, I’ve never really worked up any kind of sweat while playing Wii Sports, but I can see how you could by maybe playing Boxing over and over again.
Besides, you can pretty much play any Wii game while sitting down and flicking your wrist at certain points.
December 26th, 2007 at 10:09 am
The only game that requires lots of “effort” is Boxing, and that is over in less than 5 minutes, which isn’t long enough to count. Otherwise, it’s just a sore forearm, wrist, or arm in general; not exactly a full body workout.
However, Dance Dance Revolution would count to some extent.
December 26th, 2007 at 2:45 pm
I have both Wii Sports and DDR. Both are excellent sources of exercise, in my opinion. It’s really an interval workout if you think about it.
You just have to play the game for an extended period of time. I usually go through the Wii Sports game one-by-one (excluding golf) to get a really good workout.
December 27th, 2007 at 11:21 am
There is no replacement for actual cardiovascular activity. Someone out of shape might break a sweat playing wii sports… but that is not exercise.
December 29th, 2007 at 4:42 am
Well, I would conclude different from this study. Wii Sports only burns up an additional 60 kcal in an hour. I’d be interested to see what M&S Olympic burns up, because in my experiene it is a much harder slog. and less about Flicking wrists than Wii Sports.
However, Wii Sports does show an increase in energy consumption in even a low ipact game, so demonstartes the POTENTIAL for the wii to be a real source of exercise. Plus, is an extra 60 kcal burnt for todays kids not 4% of their recommended GDA?
December 31st, 2007 at 10:48 am
Congi,
4% would be correct, IF the kids actually only consumed the 1500 kcal you are suggesting, which is probably half of a normal intake of a unhealthy/obese kid. Logtar is correct, true cardiovascular exercise needs to raise your heart rate to 80-85% for a sustained period (20-45 mins) to count. Other than boxing and DDR (which only last 5 mins tops), I’ve never experienced anywhere near that amount of exertion.
December 31st, 2007 at 9:56 pm
well im a owner of a wii and i have wii sports i think that in the boxing it feels like alot more energy is used but i also think that it is posible that you only use 2% more energy so im 50/50 on this one
December 31st, 2007 at 10:00 pm
oh and steve ur a dork
January 2nd, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Blayze,
Thanks, ha. I’m an accountant AND personal trainer so I know how it all comes down to numbers with this stuff. When are they going to release WiiTaxes?!?!? hahaha.
February 1st, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Thanks for sharing
February 9th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
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March 23rd, 2008 at 11:42 pm
I’d prefer reading in my native language, because my knowledge of your languange is no so well.
April 28th, 2008 at 1:07 am
Come on now people! turn on the other side of your brains.
Look,you don’t even have to think very hard about it.
Active exercise is far better for you than anything you can do in front of a screen playing “virtually” anything. Dave