Nintendo Wii Fit review

The Nintendo Wii has taken the wolrd by storm. Invented for two reasons, to apply to girls and to get serious gamers off their butt and moving the Nintendo Wii has developed into one of, if not THE leading games console.

Games such as Wii Tennis, Boogie and Big Brain have users up and out of their seats moving vigerous to beat either the console or other players via the multi-player option - the feature that really brings the Nintendo Wii into its own.

Nintendo Wii Fit

The Nintendo Wii Fit Kit takes the idea of active play during console games and cranks this up to 11. The Wii Fit 'games' and Wii Fit mat come together to allow gamers to pit not just their wits but their fitness against their previous personal best scores (these are saved into the memory every time you play) and to the scores of their friends and family.

Games include yoga - which concentrates on balance and posture, as well as aerobics and strength activities.

Pros and Cons of the Nintendo Wii Fit

So, whilst using the Nintendo Wii Fit, can a gamer actually get fit? Well ... I'd class myself as a fit guy (ex personal trainer and avid gym user) and after playing Wii Tennis I felt like I'd had a pretty energetic workout. But let's put the Nintendo Wii and Wii Fit through its paces.

Nintendo Wii Fit advantages

• It's fun! For any exercise regime to be successful the exerciser needs to look forward to their fitness session
• Variety. The Wii Fit tackles the four main areas of fitness - strength, aerobic ability, balance and flexibility.
• The Wii Fit will develop and more and more games will be developed, adding more variety along the way.
• Just like a good personal trainer the Wii Fit records your scores and allows you tp track improvements.
• The Nintendo Wii Fit is motivating. Tracking your scores and trying to beat your friends means that your lvele of fitness will be challenged to show improvements.
• It gets you up and moving. For key groups (children and sedentary individuals) the Wii Fit will add exercise to a previously non-active routine.

Nintendo Wii Fit disadvantages

• Unlike other exercise technology and regimes their is little research written about the positive effects of the Nintendo Wii and the Wii Fit.
• To lose weight individuals need to be in a calorie deficit - eat less calories than you burn. Played vigorously and other prolonged periods (30 - 60 minutes 5 times a week) the Nintendo Wii and Wii Fit will contribute to this deficit. However, over eating will not produce weight loss or positive weight management.
• Although motivating people may tire of very small incremental improvements within the games. This may in fact reduce motivation and drive users to less strenous games.
• Exercise should be fun, challenging and as varied as possible. Usually this should include activities like bike riding, swimming, climbing, running, walking, weight lifting - activities the boffins at Nintendo will find it hard to replicate.

Summary

As far as game consoles go the Nintendo Wii and Wii Fit is head and shoulders above all other consoles. Games like Wii Tennis, Wii Boxing, Wii Yoga and Big Brain will have unfit people huffing and puffing, sweating and enjoying themselves. It may even motivate gamers to go outside and exercise. And for those people who are already fit they can gloat at their friends scores and try to improve their own.

But to seriously increase your fitness I suggest using the Nintendo Wii and Wii Fit to supplement an already active lifestyle.

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