1. Health

Discuss in my forum

Nintendo Wii Fit

About.com Rating 4.5 Star Rating
Be the first to write a review

By , About.com Guide

Updated July 12, 2009

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

The Bottom Line

Nintendo Wii Fit is a very popular game for good reason. From a stress management perspective, I find it to be a great tool for stress relief, especially for families, young adults, and even those who haven't normally been fans of video games.
<!--#echo encoding="none" var="lcp" -->

Pros

  • Nintendo Wii Fit can be used to relieve stress.
  • Nintendo Wii Fit can also be used to get more exercise in a fun way.
  • Nintendo Wii Fit offers opportunities to connect with family and friends.
  • In some ways, the game is a motivator for doing more exercise than you might normally do.

Cons

  • Using the game may not provide the same benefits as an exercise class.
  • Because of the way the games are formatted, the flow of your exercise routine may feel disrupted.

Description

  • Wii Fit comes with a 9'' x 11'' balance board which works as a scale, and measures balance when performing various exercises.
  • There are four modes of game: yoga, strength training, balance and aerobics. All are fun!
  • Wii Fit allows you to track your weight and progress over time, which can be a great motivator.

Guide Review - Nintendo Wii Fit

Nintendo's Wii Fit is a favorite amongst gamers and novices alike for several reasons. While other reviews may focus on the more high-tech angles, I'd like to tell you of the stress management benefits of the Wii.

First, the Wii offers a much better opportunity for exercise than other video game consoles. Because of the stress relief benefits of exercise, this can be very useful.

Second, the Wii offers opportunities for family bonding. Because of the benefits of social support and close-knit family relationships, it's really refreshing to have a video gaming system that brings people together rather than encouraging solitude.

Finally, the Wii allows you to actually perform activities related to stress relief, such as yoga and breathing exercises, if you use games like Wii Fit! Sure, you could do yoga exercises on your own, but using Wii Fit offers the benefits of possibly teaching you new poses, allowing you to track your progress over time, and encouraging you to do more. I really enjoy my Wii and Wii Fit for these reasons, and find myself doing more yoga poses than I would were I using just a book (though not as many as I would probably do in a class).

In all, there are some compelling reasons to get a Wii, especially if you'd like a 'kinder, gentler' console that's also more female-friendly, family friendly, and fitness-oriented.

<!--#echo encoding="none" var="lcp" -->

©2012 About.com. All rights reserved.

A part of The New York Times Company.

We comply with the HONcode standard
for trustworthy health
information: verify here.