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Research Finds Wii Fit Safer and Less Effective Than Gym, Nobody's Surprised

by Lee Bains on July 22, 2010 at 10:50 AM

wii fitAs our country becomes more obese and more tightly fastened to the couch, Nintendo's Wii, with the 'Wii Fit' system in particular, has positioned itself to be the artery-cleaner of choice for the shut-in gamer. A researcher from Ohio State University recently helped to cement that image -- claiming that the Wii Fit exercise regimen is far safer than its real-life counterparts.

According to master's student Derek Troyer, lifting weights at a gym is four times more likely to result in an emergency room visit than playing 'Wii Fit,' while running on a treadmill is 1.5 times more likely. Despite those facts, Troyer is quick to point out that, when it comes to health benefits, virtual exercise is no match for the real thing; exercising for real, the research concludes, burns twice the calories per minute as a Wii-workout. That being said, if you're one of those Wii enthusiasts who hates the gym and can't deal with the discomfort of leaving your air-conditioned apartment, then go on ahead with your bad self. It's certainly a lot better than downing a pizza and two-liter while playing 'World of Warcraft.' [From: New York Times Bits Blog]

Tags: exercise, gym, health, nintendo, nintendo wii, NintendoWii, top, videogames, wii, wiifit

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