title: Will Nintendo "Wii Fit" Get You Fit? An Evaluation of the Energy Expenditure from Active-Play Videogames.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine whether Nintendo(®) (Redmond, WA) "Wii Fit™" games can help individuals meet physical activity recommendations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty young healthy volunteers were recruited for this randomized crossover study to evaluate the energy expenditure associated with (1) a 30-minute "Wii Fit Free Run," (2) three 10-minute bouts of "Wii Fit" aerobic games ("Rhythm Boxing," "Super Hula Hoop," and "Advanced Steps"), and (3) 30-minute treadmill running/walking. Energy expenditure was measured by indirect calorimetry using breath-by-breath analyses of O2 consumption and CO2 production.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The "Wii Fit" conditions produced a moderate exercise intensity (5.0, 4.1, 3.9, and 3.8 metabolic equivalents [METs] in "Free Run," "Rhythm Boxing," "Super Hula Hoop," and "Advanced Steps"), whereas the treadmill running/walking produced a vigorous exercise intensity (METs=8.0). Based on federal guidelines, an individual could achieve the minimum weekly goal of 500 MET-minutes by playing selected "Wii Fit" aerobics games for 20-26 minutes a day, 5 days a week.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although not as vigorous as the treadmill, active-play videogames such as "Wii Fit" may provide an alternative way to encourage exercise and increase adoption and adherence to the physical activity guidelines.
authors.affiliation: 1 Duke Clinical Research Institute , Durham, North Carolina.|2 Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester Medical Center , Rochester, New York.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xian
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester Medical Center , Rochester, New York.|3 Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University , Montreal, Quebec, Canada .
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kakinami
authors.affiliation: 1 Duke Clinical Research Institute , Durham, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Eric D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester Medical Center , Rochester, New York.|4 Department of Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center , Rochester, New York.
authors.forename: Karen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Mustian
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester Medical Center , Rochester, New York.
authors.forename: I Diana
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Fernandez