title: The cardiovascular and metabolic responses to Wii Fit video game playing in middle-aged and older adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was (a) to assess the cardiovascular and metabolic responses to Wii Fit video games and (b) to determine if Wii Fit video games meet the American College of Sports Medicine guidelines for improving and maintaining cardiorespiratory fitness.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty men and women (mean±SD age, height, and weight: = 58.1±8.8 years, 172.1±10.5 cm, 87.1±22.8 kg, respectively) completed a 20-min Wii Fit testing session consisting of six separate aerobic and balance games. Cardiovascular and metabolic data were collected via a portable calorimetric measurement system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean relative exercise intensity was 43.4±16.7% of heart rate reserve. Absolute exercise intensity in metabolic equivalents (METS) was 3.5±0.96. Total net energy expenditure for the Wii Fit video game playing session was 116.2±40.9 kcal/session.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results indicate that playing Wii Fit video games is a feasible alternative to more traditional aerobic exercise modalities for middle-aged and older adults that fulfills the American College of Sports Medicine guidelines for improving and maintaining cardiorespiratory fitness.
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire, Wisconsin, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Guderian
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Borreson
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Sletten
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cable
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Stecker
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Probst
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Dalleck
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D018910:Video Games