Get fit games, they do nothing

by Ben Salter Featured 10 Comments 30 Votes 2027 Views 28/02/2012 Back to News

Research is back to ruin the fun once again, this time claiming to somewhat surprisingly find that active "get fit" style games don't make kids more active.

Researchers in Houston gave two groups of kids who didn't already own a Wii Nintendo's motion-controlled console.

The first group played active games like Wii Fit, while the second group played more traditional inactive games like Super Mario Galaxy.

The kids wore accelerometers for 13 weeks and had data taken at weeks one, six, seven and 12.

The results found that those in the active game group averaged 25 to 28 minutes of moderate or vigorous physical activity each day, compared to 26 to 29 minutes in the inactive group, reports Reuters.

"Frankly we were shocked by the complete lack of difference," said researcher Tom Baranowski.

However, the same might not ring true for adults. Another study has found it doesn't matter how much time a child spends sitting down, as long as they get their recommended 30-60 minutes of exercise per day, whereas more physical activity is beneficial to adults.

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Kudos: 28,350

W84NO1

Well duh! [Facepalm]

28/02/2012

It's not the destination, but the journey you take to get there that matters.

Kudos: 24,457

Makra

Seems like a fairly narrow study. Simply relying on tracking acceleration and movement doesn't necessarily accurately indicate the effectiveness or quality of the exercise being done. Some of those Wii Fit exercises rely on holding a position to build strength, rather than repeated movements, and therefore wouldn't show up in their results. The game exercises could also be providing more efficient exercises than what the other group were doing.

28/02/2012

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Kudos: 297,583

Tano

Makra said: Seems like a fairly narrow study. Simply relying on tracking acceleration and movement doesn't necessarily accurately indicate the effectiveness or quality of the exercise being done. Some of those Wii Fit exercises rely on holding a position to build strength, rather than repeated movements, and therefore wouldn't show up in their results. The game exercises could also be providing more efficient exercises than what the other group were doing.

I thought the same thing.

I think these fit programs provide pretty good incentive. My mum uses hers and still goes to the gym. She uses it for Yoga and just mini-games. She loves it.

28/02/2012

"Niko! Cousin!"

Kudos: 10,518

LMA0

Eat less, move more

28/02/2012

Outer West Sydney aka The Ghetto

Kudos: 352,846

Guyver

If you are moving you burn some calories so playing something like Wii Fit has to do something.

28/02/2012

I'm a level 5 Laser Lotus

Kudos: 540

PS3sR2Dear

Wii Fit Games DO make you lose weight !
There's a built in graph and it proves it !

I read once that twiddling your thumbs uses the same calories as walking.....so the results aren't a surprise to me.

28/02/2012

Australia - In my TARDIS.

Kudos: 18,082

BJ2

PS3sR2Dear said:
I read once that twiddling your thumbs uses the same calories as walking.....so the results aren't a surprise to me.

Sorry but that is so wrong. Just think about the muscle movement involved in each exercise and the amount of energy used to process the movement. If this was the case gamers would be the 2nd fittest type of person (2nd to those who do propper exercise/workout)

29/02/2012

Kudos: 540

PS3sR2Dear

Used-Calories does not Equal 'Cardio Vascular Fitness'.
Walking for humans is a very efficient form of exercise, unless you walk-off-the CALORIES, eaten, you will not lose weight.
And as for twiddling, you'll get stronger thumbs for sure lol

29/02/2012

Australia - In my TARDIS.

Kudos: 10,263

punk

PS3sR2Dear said:
I read once that twiddling your thumbs uses the same calories as walking.....so the results aren't a surprise to me.

Who said that, Bobby Kotick (activision blizzard prez) :P

anyways I'm sure some of these games would do some sort of work out - I've put up a sweat on dance central [Shifty] but it's not something I rely on.

29/02/2012

Kudos: 24,457

Makra

PS3sR2Dear said: Wii Fit Games DO make you lose weight !
There's a built in graph and it proves it !
I read once that twiddling your thumbs uses the same calories as walking.....so the results aren't a surprise to me.

That's gotta be wrong. Someone who walks for 4 hours a day would not be fat if they had a normal metabolism. Someone who played games for 4 hours a day couldn't expect the same, assuming both had the same diet.

29/02/2012

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