'Wii Fit' Showing Up in Middle School Gyms

We are developing a nation of whimps ! What is wrong with going outside and actually doing some running and jumping. Playing Wii for gym class, give me a break. These fat, frail kids I see these days make me sick. Spoiled little brats with nothing on their minds but video games. Junk food and video games....what healthy adults these kids are going to grow up to be.

I own a WII fit, and it's more than just balance and yoga games. It also has aerobic exercises like running in place, stepping exercises, and strength training. I use it on days when the weather is bad, and is an alternative to walking or jogging outside, and I DO work up a sweat.

It has to be combined with a proper diet, but it is helping me to lose weight. Not everyone is athletic or competitive, and if they prefer this to actice sports, it may be a way to to keep their interest. If a video game helps them to pay attention to fitness, then go for it.

I don't approve of this. Kids today are overwhelmed by too much video/media and attempting to use it as a way to promote "physical health" is just another lame marketing ploy corporations use to make $$$ off the suckers who buy into it!

I remember when most of my weekends/after-school hours were spent outdoors playing tag, riding bikes, touch football at the local park, hiking in the hills nearby, sleepovers, vaulting, and/or playing sports (soccer & softball) at the local recreation center. These activities not only promoted physical health, but I developed teamwork, social and communication skills to boot! Sure they're were a few overweight kids during my school years, but they were the minority, and only 20 years later they're almost the majority!

Let's face it, we ALL KNOW that the boob tube, video games and constant texting are solely responsible for the poor physical health, social and teamwork skills our young generations have developed. It's high time parents/schools/communities get their "heads out of the sand" and put a stop to it, as the cost of healthcare will bankrupt this country if we don't get a handle on it quickly.

Where are the parents of these fat, lazy, self-absorbed kids? It is NOT up to the schools to teach kids about exercise, and healthy eating habits. It is the parents responsibility, and it starts way before middle school. I do not pay my taxes for the schools and teachers to babysit because parents can't be bothered.

What is wrong with games like basketball, touch football, soccer, softball,baseball,or just plain old tag. Kids need to get outside in the sun, (vitamin D). Why do we need a computer to make our kids exercise? I grew up without computers and guess what? I wasn't fat, lazy, or bored. If I ever told my mother that I was bored, she would put a mop in my hand and tell me to get started.
Kids these days are spoiled and eat way to much junk food, while they sit in front of video games, put them outside.

I started using the Wii Fit around 3 and a half weeks ago...along with watching my portions of food.. and have already lost 10 lbs. I enjoy working out this way alot better in the privacy of my own home,rather then going to a gym and feeling uncomfortable around all those trim hard bodies. But I agree with most post..that it is ridiculous to have young kids depending on it during gym classes. Get them outside.....really moving... they're young... get them moving !!!

I am 15 years old and my little brother owns a wii,it is really fun. I agree with the fact of not having the wii fits replace gym class, but for excersise at home its not a bad idea. Some kids are not able to go outside. I am a teenager but I live in a bad neighboorhood where just walking my dog around the corner is a risk. So I only get the extra excersise when my mother takes my brother and I to the park on weekends. (and thats a rare thing too) But during the week, the wii gives us something better to do then just sitting around doing nothing. Even kids get tired of watching tv and going online

I think that it is awful. The reason our kids are not fit is because they only have PE 2-3 days per week. At home they watch tv, play video games or spend all their time on the computer. My kids don't. When a lot of us were kids we didn't come home until steet lights came on and there were not that many overweight kids. Parents need to make sure that they limit the tv, computer and video games and make their kids go out and play!!!!

The peripherals were donated by Nintendo? No sh*t? If this gets approval for school use, one will be needed for each student in a class, all paid for by the school system. I think it is a poor idea, and another way for lazy gym teachers to get lazy students to participate in PE, perhaps with less moaning and fewer excuses about why they can't do something.

This video game approach to PE is another means to teach our children to be loners, and omit teaching them skills like teamwork, sportsmanship, and taking turns. I would hate to see PE abolished in our school system, but no PE is almost better than teaching the students bad lessons.