ISSA endorses the Wii for its health benefits

The International Sports Sciences Association, self-proclaiming world leader in fitness education, looks toward Nintendo’s newest console for the obvious health benefits achievable by simply playing games on it. It is exergaming at it’s best.

Even while games and their gaming machines have been primarily blamed for the new generation’s laziness, obesity and some lifestyle diseases, the Nintendo Wii has caught the eye of some fitness experts. The games available on the Wii get people off their seat and keep them in constant motion. Well, that is if you actually do get up and move around.

But don’t be concerned if the Wii doesn’t give you much lee-way in bringing out your full potential, because Dr. Thomas Fahey of the Department of Kinesiology at California State University says:

Most benefits of physical activity occur when progressing from sedentary to moderately active. So, even though ‘exertainment’ may not produce high levels of fitness, it promotes physical activity and can help people meet the physical activity recommendations of the Surgeon General, USDA 2005 report, and the new 2007 ACSM exercise guidelines that will be released in February.

Dance Dance Revolution, among other games, has been worthy of note for ISSA. Because it is available for all consoles, and not just the Wii, it extends its exergaming reach to all young gamers. But since the Wii is for the family and home, it can help even the older generation keep active.

So whether you decided to play just to have fun or to relax from a tough day, you will always work a sweat toward good health.

The International Sports Sciences Association, self-proclaiming world leader in fitness education, looks toward Nintendo’s newest console for the obvious health benefits achievable by simply playing games on it. It is exergaming at it’s best.

Even while games and their gaming machines have been primarily blamed for the new generation’s laziness, obesity and some lifestyle diseases, the Nintendo Wii has caught the eye of some fitness experts. The games available on the Wii get people off their seat and keep them in constant motion. Well, that is if you actually do get up and move around.

But don’t be concerned if the Wii doesn’t give you much lee-way in bringing out your full potential, because Dr. Thomas Fahey of the Department of Kinesiology at California State University says:

Most benefits of physical activity occur when progressing from sedentary to moderately active. So, even though ‘exertainment’ may not produce high levels of fitness, it promotes physical activity and can help people meet the physical activity recommendations of the Surgeon General, USDA 2005 report, and the new 2007 ACSM exercise guidelines that will be released in February.

Dance Dance Revolution, among other games, has been worthy of note for ISSA. Because it is available for all consoles, and not just the Wii, it extends its exergaming reach to all young gamers. But since the Wii is for the family and home, it can help even the older generation keep active.

So whether you decided to play just to have fun or to relax from a tough day, you will always work a sweat toward good health.