Nintendo Wii = Real Exercise

Good news for those of you out there with a Nintendo Wii Fit or for those looking for a fun, new way to squeeze some exercise in your busy schedule.

A recent study from the National Institute of Health and Nutrition in Tokyo claims that playing some of the games on Wii Fit and Wii Sports provide actually exercise. “About one-third of the games and activities included in the Wii Sports and Wii Fit packages require an energy expenditure of 3.0 METs or above, which is considered to be moderate intensity exercise, according to American Heart Association exercise guidelines.”

METs (metabolic equivalents) are the measure of energy expended during exercise. For example, it only takes 1.0 METs to sit still, and vigorous activity is considered 6.0 METs and above. Below are some of the most popular Wii Fit games and their METs –

• Wii Boxing = 4.5 Mets
• Wii Tennis = 3.0 Mets
• Wii Baseball = 3.0 Mets
• Wii Golf = 2.0 Mets

While the study doesn’t prove any health benefits of using Wii Fit, it does offer people a fun alternative for burning calories.

Empire Health and Wellness Center often incorporates the Nintendo Wii into physical therapy sessions to boost a person’s balance, flexibility and mobility. If you are interested in learning more about how you could benefit from using a Wii Fit or Sport, feel free to contact Empire Health and Wellness Center at 518-690-4406 or visit our website at www.empirehwc.com.