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By Andrea Renee Wyatt, M.S.S.,C.S.C.S
Q: My husband and I recently bought a Nintendo
Wii for our children to encourage them to become more active. They
enjoy dancing and would always beg us to stop in the video arcade to
play this one dance game. We thought it would be a great idea to get
the same dance game for the Wii system. Our children love it and
want to play it for hours! Due to the weather, our children are
forced to stay inside most of the winter, which causes them to get
lazy and lethargic. Although they are moving and sweating and
jumping around playing this video game, is this an acceptable form
of exercise, or would they need to be more active?
A: Many people are finding the Nintendo Wii
video game system to be more than just another computer game. Due to
its interactive nature of moving not just your fingers, but in many
cases your whole body, it can be a useful tool to help encourage
children AND adults to get off the couch and get moving.
The Nintendo Wii and similar game systems have
taken the concept of playing video games and added a more lifelike,
being-part-of-the-game element through the use of hand control, and
in the case of the dance game you bought for your children, the use
of hand and foot control. This causes players to keep moving, but
also requires hand/eye/foot coordination by mimicking what is on the
video screen.
I have to admit to having a Nintendo Wii myself
and playing one of the dance games designed for the system. I have
to say . . . IT IS CHALLENGING and can definitely be considered a
workout. It also is fun, which can keep the attention of children
and adults and distract them from feeling they are “exercising.”
There are other games for the Wii system that
can keep you moving as well. Wii Sports has tennis, boxing, bowling,
golf and baseball games, all of which require you to move as if you
were actually playing in the game. Other games for other sports and
activities are also available, even games that are specially
designed to promote workouts and exercise.
As with any type of exercise, a balanced workout
is important for overall fitness and would ideally include at least
five days a week of cardiovascular exercise and a few other days a
week of strength and flexibility training. We also cannot forget
about proper nutrition and healthy lifestyle habits.
The Nintendo Wii video game system can be a
great and fun way to help keep your whole family moving. Until the
weather improves, keep encouraging your children to dance their way
to staying fit. Always consult a physician before beginning an
exercise program.
Andrea Renee Wyatt, M.S.S., C.S.C.S., is a
personal trainer with an extensive in strength and conditioning as
well as therapeutic recreation. If you have a fitness or training
question, write to Andrea in care of King Features Weekly Service,
P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475
-- (c) 2008 King Features
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