The USA Today Weekend insert in today’s paper has this story about the one and only Shigeru Miyamoto and his latest hit, the Wii Fit. Nintendo had huge presence at Indy Jazz Fest (yeah, it confused me too) promoting their new fitness games and hardware. Being a bit of a fitness geek, I couldn’t help but wander over and check it out.
The first thing that became obvious was why they were there. Although there were a fair number of kids at Jazz Fest, there was only a mild interest among them. No, the true target audience of this product is the middle aged set, mostly women, who are constantly looking for that weight loss silver bullet that doesn’t require too much work.
So how does it work as a fitness device? Well, not having used it, I can’t say for certain. Watching the games on display and how they worked, I would say probably not all that well, but it’s better than nothing. If the time you spend at it would otherwise be spent watching TV or playing a traditional video game, there is at least activtity involved. Much like Yoga, the majority of the games seem to focus on core strength and balance. What’s missing is the cardiovascular fitness side of the equation and overall strength/endurance training which is need to get that metabolism going.
So, if your looking for something new and fun to suplement your existing exercise routine, or to replace some sedentary free time activity, give it a try. Just don’t expect miracles.
