WiiLoaded.com - Wii Forum and News

Everyone knows, or they should know that sitting on your butt playing video games, watching movies, listening to music or whatever is not healthy. Nintendo Wii changed that for many people with their innovative control and stand up game playing. Sure you could sit down and play but that's not nearly as fun or healthy. While playing the Wii won't give you drastic changes it will be healthier for you than playing sitting down. The Nintendo Wii has received praise by the International Sport Sciences Association for getting kids off the couch and giving them so exercise. This is good news for the Wii and gives people, especially parents even more reason to buy it. Check out the full story below.

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Whoever said that videogames aren't good for you must never have played a session of Wii Sports before.

The International Sports Sciences Association has issued a press release praising the Wii for helping get kids off of the couch and burn off some calories.

"I think that any gaming system that gets the users off the couch and moving around has obvious health benefits. I saw kids using the Wii in the mall, and they were working up quite a sweat playing the boxing and tennis games," said Al Grant, an ISSA Certified Fitness Trainer.

In reference to the Wii's mass market appeal, ISSA Fitness Trainer Nichole Snow deemed the Wii as encouraging all walks of life to fight flab. Said Snow, "The best part is its just fun - for everyone. Deconditioned and obese individuals will find it fun to play and gain aerobic movement out of the games. Seniors can enjoy gentle movements of bowling and golfing. Youth become a part of the game and don't just turn into vegetables in front of the TV. Everyone can burn some calories and learn some good health habits from Nintendo Wii's fitness, and the system is just too hard to pass up when watching anyone play."

Fitness Association Endorses Wii - nintendojo

Amen! Who hasn't worked up a sweat playing Wii Sports. One step closer to Wii fitness and Wii weights

Well, i'm suere that the out break of obese people will diwndle, thanks to the Wii!

Outbreak? Obesity is a disease now?

Just rippin on ya man

But seriously, like Nintendo promised, the Wii was a "revolution" in gaming. Whether or not everyone wants to admit it yet. If everyone hasn't discovered it by now, they will know it in the next few years when more and more games get us all off our flabby asses

After this story now there's another headline making its way around about a gym in Canada that will be using the Wii for one part of their fitness center. Check out the full story below.

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Canadian Company Joins Fitness With Video Games

Marketnews isn't really the place you’d expect to read about the latest fitness centre, but the Bulldog Interactive facility for youths is a perfect example of the growing trend toward electronics in fitness. The facilities combine video games with getting in shape by using exercise equipment that’s fed through gaming systems, like Sony’s PlayStation 2.

Founded in February 2005 by Halifax, NS resident Holly Bond, Bulldog Interactive Fitness, Inc.’s mandate is to help combat childhood obesity, and the general lack of activity displayed by youth today. Kids these days are more apt to stay indoors and conquer the latest video game with their friends, or surf the ‘net, than to engage in outdoor sports activites.

"I know what happens when you run out of tricks: TV, Internet, snacks, MP3 players, cell phones, cameras... it's tough getting kids active and there aren't many options out there," explained Lisa Franschman, owner of a new, 5,000 sq. ft. franchise location that will celebrate its grand opening this weekend in Thornhill, ON. "Parents can just drop their kids off and go do their errands. They can rest assured that when they leave their children at our facility, we will cater to every child and make him feel special."

Members at any of the four locations can get fit while having fun on a video dance machine, cycle live against Bulldog members in other facilities, or race against friends (or the computer) using bikes connected to Sony PlayStation 2 consoles and games: their pedaling activates their virtual car in the game, while the handlebars allow them to steer! Both Toronto locations (two others are in Nova Scotia) are also equipped with the new Nintendo Wii gaming consoles. Other technology-related activities are available. For example, a wall that illuminates in random spots, prompting the child to swat a tennis ball in its direction. The gyms are designed exclusively for youth aged from three up to teens, and certified youth trainers are on hand, supervising at all times.

“Parents are encouraged to just drop their kids off,” Bond told Marketnews. “The kids tend to be better behaved when the parents aren’t there!”

“We [also] work on [kids’] self-esteem, and a by-product of this is that they lose weight if they need to, develop muscle tone, and their school grades go up: the list of benefits is long,” enthused Bond.

The latest Bulldog Interactive franchise, and second to open in the greater Toronto area (GTA), will celebrate its grand opening this weekend from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is located at 1450 Clarke Ave. W. The existing GTA franchise is at 109 Vanderhoof Ave. in Toronto. Two other locations are open in Canada, both in Nova Scotia (48 Ryland Ave. in Truro and 644 Portland St. in Dartmouth). Several other locations are scheduled to open soon, including one in Burlington, ON, and another in Barrie, ON, about an hour’s north of Toronto.

Canadian Company Joins Fitness With Video Games

Wow that's awesome! Go Wii!