Given my earlier post regarding Michael Torchia's class action suit against Nintendo, I though it would be nice to post a good news story on Wii Fit. News is that San Diego Padres reliever, Heath Bell, was motivated to get in shape by playing Wii Fit with his children. Weighing in at 270 pounds, good old Wii Fit labelled him as obese and adjusted his Mii character accordingly. According to Bell, "If you're obese, it makes (your character on screen) obese. I was disappointed that I was that big. I literally took the game to heart. I did the work but I kind of credit the Wii Fit."

Well he did the work all right, losing 25 pounds in time for his next season. Interestingly he doesn't mention spending hours on Wii Fit trying to lose weight which is highly unlikely given that as a power pitcher, he's most probably more used to spending many hours in the gym. The point is that Wii Fit was simply the catalyst that got him thinking about his weight and motivated him to do something about it. For many, I think that in itself proves Wii Fit's worth.

Source: The Canadian Press

Let's face it, it was only a matter of time before somebody jumped on this bandwagon. I'm just surprised it's taken this long. First we had parents up in arms because their children were being labelled 'obese'. Then we had reports of increasing numbers of Wii-related injuries. Now we have fitness guru, Michael Torchia, who's on a mission because he feels that adults and children are being brainwashed by Nintendo's marketing into thinking that Wii games (specifically Wii Fit) are a safe and effective way to become fit.

According to Torchia, "Nintendo is contributing to the epidemic of obesity. Young and old are putting away their gym clothes and shying away from going outdoors to play sports, because the addictive appeal to the Wii game products. Just as the tobacco companies created such a false image of their products and hid the potential dangers, so is Nintendo."

Wow – comparing Wii to tobacco advertising – that's pretty strong talk, but I think he's taking things too far. Yes it's true that as a fitness tool, Wii Fit may not be as good as the hype may have led us to believe, but for many it's a great starting point. Wii Fit has also done a great deal to generate awareness of exergaming and paved the way for future fitness titles such as Jillian Michaels' Fitness Ultimatum and EA's Sports Active. Of course there's no denying that improper use of Wii Fit can lead to injuries and yes, some people (a minority in my view) may see Wii Fit as an alternative to outdoor activity but why the need for this negative crusade and the knee-jerk reaction to sue.

Obviously Torchia has a lot to gain by all this increased attention but surely if he really had people's best interests in mind he would follow the example of fellow fitness pros like Bob Greene (currently endorsing EA Sports Active) and focus on the positive effects of Wii Fit (or does he consider that as selling out?). So Wii Fit can lead to injuries – why not use your years of experience and do more to show us how best we should warm up or what the best form should be for the various Wii Fit activities. So Wii Fit stops people from outdoor exercise – surely there's room for both – how about creating some fitness programmes that can incorporate both.

Instead, Torchia has decided that suing Nintendo is the best thing to do. Is that really the answer? Does he really think that this is what we need to help us get off our couches and physically active and healthy? Or maybe he's just upset that nobody offered him the chance to be the face of a Wii fitness title and now it's payback time.

Looking to get a little more out of your Wii Fit step workout? It seems you can now get a balance board add-on call the RIISER Aerobic Step which raises your wiiboard by 4 inches to give you a better step workout. (Thanks Jas for emailing me about this.)

Of course you could just put your balance board on a pile of books (joke) but I'm not sure how safe that would be. The RIISER looks pretty secure but at $79.99 it seems like a lot to pay for 4 inches.

Anyway Jas is considering buying one and was wondering if anybody's bought one yet and has a review or comments.

Already grown tired of your Wii Balance Board? Not interested in any of the other balance board compatible games on offer (not even Shaun White Snowboarding) and ready to sell your Wii Fit? Well according to information published by VideoGamePriceCharts.com, depending on how much you initially paid for your Wii Fit, selling it online may actually make you a profit.

According to their figures (based on eBay sales) Wii Fit tops their Top 10 Games By Resale Value chart with an average resale value of $139.78. That's 55% more than the MSRP of $89.99. I have to say I was a bit sceptical so I did some digging of my own on eBay. For the most part their average seems to be pretty accurate although I did see some 'gently used' Wii Fits going for $100 to $115. Bottom line is that taking shipping into account, if you do decide to sell your Wii Fit on eBay you should at least get back what you originally paid for it - unless of course you paid over the odds to begin with.

Interestingly, for those of you still keen to try out the balance board without having to buy Wii Fit, I also saw a few listings for the balance board only, going for less than $80. May be worth considering.

Back in July last year I blogged about a study by the American Council on Exercise to measure the potential fitness benefits of Wii Sports. As I said back then, the results of the study weren’t earth shattering - yes, playing Wii Sports is better for you than simply sitting on the couch. As this study was done prior to the launch of Wii Fit, I mentioned back then that a similar study on Wii Fit would be interesting.

Later this year our questions regarding the effectiveness of Wii Fit may be answered scientifically when the results of a study by the University of Mississippi are finally published. The six month study which started last fall is tracking eight families who have been loaned Nintendo Wiis and will be evaluated for fitness, physical activity and body composition. The effectiveness of Wii Fit itself will be determined by comparing results taken in the first three months without Wii Fit in the home to the last three months with Wii Fit in the home.

It's a bit difficult to assess the study without having the exact details behind it and the results could vary significantly depending on numerous factors. If during the three months with the Wii Fit, the families are given specific strict training routines to follow then I would expect to see some improvements in overall activity and balance (maybe even body composition if diet is involved). If however the families are simply given the console and left to their own devices, the results may not be that great and that wouldn’t really surprise me. I've always maintained that Wii Fit was never intended to be a proper fitness tool, but rather a way to market the Wii Balance Board and create opportunities for third-party developers.

Case in point would be EA Games with their forthcoming EA Sports Active title scheduled for release in May. Now this is shaping up to be a full-blown fitness tool and EA is going all out to promote it with endorsements from fitness pros Bob Greene and Carmen Bott. Personally, I'm less interested in the results of the Mississippi Uni study and more interested to see what users have to say once this title is released. Could it be the Wii exergame we've all been waiting for?

In a recent post this blog reported on a new phenomenon that is occurring as a result of extensive and widespread usage of the Wii and the Wii Balance Board. To recap, as more people use the Wii as an exercise tool, they are sustaining injuries in their knees, back and wrists because of overuse and proper planning. Here are a few ways to use the balance board injury free.

First, treat the balance board as any other form of exercise. Warm up and stretch before any session lasting more then a few minutes, and don't do more then you are capable of. After each exercise, remember to cool down and stretch again.

Second, know your limits. You're probably not as in good shape as you were 10 years ago, and you will feel it if you're not careful. Work within your limits to get a good experience from the balance board without hurting yourself.

Third, give yourself time in between games. Play games 3 or 4 times a week instead of everyday, and make sure you get a good nights sleep before playing a game.

Fourth, consult your Doctor. Tell him you are beginning a routine that involves different exercises and stress on the joints (specifically knees, back and elbow). Ask him what suggestions he/she has regarding this type of exercise.

Finally, have fun - realize that the Wii and the balance board specifically are physical games that are new and require some getting used to. At the same time, they are designed to be fun. Try and find the proper balance between the fun part and the exertion part and you will end up having a much better Wii experience.

About the author
When she's not on her balance board, Maya Richard is blogging. Right now she is writing about high speed internet for Cable Modem Help. You can reach her with questions about Internet, Wii and blogging on mayarichard@gmail.com

No, this is not the first in a serious of new Wii fitness titles targeting specific body parts. Instead it's a new Wii-related injury according to an article on The Tech Herald. Now I like to think of myself as fairly active so I wouldn't have expected to hurt myself playing a game, but I've also had my share of Wii related injuries, including Wii elbow from some particularly vigorous games of baseball on Wii Sports. As a result, this latest injury doesn't come as a surprise especially given the increasing number of wii balance boards out there now.

In part, you can expect an increase in Wii injuries as grandparents everywhere suddenly find themselves off the couch swinging wildly in the air and moving body parts they forgot existed, all for the joy of their darling grandchildren. But even regularly active folk are caught off guard as they use previously ignored muscles in strange new ways. I guess we're just not used to a 'game' that challenges us physically. Afterall, when you engage in sport you usually warm up first right? You don't just go at it guns blazing from the start (as you do in a game) and then wonder why the next morning you can't even lift your arms high enough to brush your own teeth.

I'm not sure what it's like outside of the UK, but I'm surprised that the health and safety nannies over here aren't all over this like a bad rash. Maybe they're still working on their 150 page manifesto "Preventing Wii Related Injuries In The Home".

I regularly receive emails from readers wanting to know if it's possible to buy a Wii Balance Board without having to buy Wii Fit. Up until now, the answer has always been the same - no. But that's all changed thanks to Wu Fit, an actual working Wii Balance Board copy (it was only a matter of time).

Now I have to say I was a little sceptical when I first saw news of this on the web but after some investigation, it looks like it really is the real deal. In fact there's already a video review on YouTube. Getting your hands on one may prove to be tricky at the moment but they seem to be distributed by a wholesaler based in China so expect to see them appearing on eBay soon.

And as with any copycat device, it's buyer beware. There's no guarantee that it will be 100% compatible with all balance board games and then there's the question of warranty if it breaks.

Oh and in case you were wondering, it doesn't ship with the Wii Fit game itself which is fine if you only want to play other Wiiboard compatible games. If you want to try out the actual Wii Fit games you'll have to borrow a disk from a friend. But here's a handy tip - if all you want to do in Wii Fit is regular body tests to track your weight and you can borrow a disk, simply install the Wii Fit channel on your console. Then you can continue to do the body tests without needing the disk.

For many years, video games were blamed in the mainstream media for contributing to laziness, apathy, and a downturn in the level of physical activity for those who played video games. When the Wii broke onto the market in 2006, however, gaming became immediately more physical. With the introduction of WiiFit and the Wii Balance Board, the possibilities for more physically demanding games became more far-reaching still.

How does exergaming benefit the people who play these games? The benefits of these games, both physically and educationally, are the focus of this article.

1. Exergaming has a wide appeal. Going to the gym is not for everyone, and neither is going outside to exercise. Exergaming appeals to people of all ages and walks of life, and enables people to exercise on their own time and on their own terms.
2. Exergaming is interactive. For many, the idea of exercise is boring. Exergaming offers an interactive way to stay physically fit and breaks the monotony of exercising alone in a gym. Turning exercise into a game involves people who may not normally have wished to exercise in the first place.
3. Exergaming tracks your progress for you. Rather than maintaining your own records, WiiFit and other games that use the Wii Balance Board save your statistics, making it effortless for the user to track his or her progress. This in turn motivates the user to challenge him or herself to do better, which is the beauty of pairing up exercise and gaming.
4. Exergaming creates interest in other activities. Exergaming is the gateway for many real physical activities. From tennis to skateboarding, players of physically active video games soon develop interests in the real-life versions of the games they play on the Wii. Those who like certain formats also seek out other video games that offer the same interactive physical activity.
5. Exergaming has limitless possibilities. With the popularity of the Wii, WiiFit, and the Wii Balance Board, the possibilities truly are limitless. From more physically demanding games, to educational applications, the integration of physicality into the world of gaming is truly the way of the future for gaming.

About the author
This post was contributed by Kelly Kilpatrick who writes on the subject of graduate school scholarships. She invites your feedback at kellykilpatrick24 at gmail dot com.

On my daily scour of the web for all things Balance Board I came across a blog post titled "Wii Fit Can Cause Eating Disorders". In itself this is nothing new - we've been bombarded by the press with similar stories since Wii Fit's launch. But a few things in this post by Aussie Pete did grab my attention.

Firstly, he quotes a response from Nintendo regarding the accuracy of BMI in relation to younger age groups. Now I've seen a few of these reponses before, but this is the first time I've seen a response from Nintendo that shifts the responsibility to parents.

"Parents who are concerned that their children will react negatively to one of the four BMI categories should use Wii Fit in such a way that the BMI tracker does not appear on screen."

While I do understand the intent I'm not sure how workable it is in practice. As a parent you may have control in your own home, but how do you stop your child from being introduced to Wii Fit outside the home as in the now well publicised case reported in the UK's Daily Mail. Fortunately it seems that common sense has prevailed and overall the response to Wii Fit continues to be positive.

The other thing that grabbed my attention was the image above which so succinctly sums up one of the problems with BMI. Incidentally, this image comes from an article on BMI at HowStuffWorks. If you're interested to read more on BMI, how it's calculated and the various pros and cons of BMI, this article is a good read.