Yes, the Wii is good for you. This study appearing in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise [9 December 2009] concluded that "Time spent playing one-third of the activities supplied by motion and gesture-controlled video games can count toward the daily amount of exercise required according to the guidelines provided by the ACSM and AHA, which focus on 30 minutes of moderate-intensity daily physical activity five days a week."
The study focused on the energy expended [EE] during Wii Fit plus and Wii Sports game activities. "Twelve adult men and women performed all the activities of Wii Sports (5 activities: golf, bowling, tennis, baseball, and boxing) and Wii Fit plus (63 activities classified as yoga, resistance, balance, and aerobic exercises). Each activity was continued for at least 8 min to obtain a steady-state EE. As EE was assessed in an open-circuit indirect metabolic chamber consisting of an airtight room (20000 L or 15000 L), subjects were freed of apparatus to collect expired gas while playing the games. MET (metabolic equivalent) value was calculated from resting EE and steady-state EE during activity.
RESULTS:: The mean MET values of all 68 activities were distributed over a wide range from 1.3 METs (Lotus Focus) to 5.6 METs (single-arm stand). The mean MET values in yoga, balance, resistance, and aerobic exercise of Wii Fit plus, and Wii Sports were 2.1, 2.0, 3.2, 3.4, and 3.0 METs, respectively. Forty-six (67%) activities were classified as light intensity (< square3 METS) and 22 (33%) activities were classified as moderate intensity (3.0 square- square6.0 METS). There were no vigorous-intensity activities (> square6.0 METs)." Abstract: PubMed.
