Fast Talk

Nintendo has already shaken up the video game industry by making a console that not only appeals to die hard gamers, it appeals to women, kids, and even grandparents. Now with Wii Fit, the company is destined to disrupt the fitness industry. It might even replace home gyms and perhaps even those Jackie Warner and Jillian Michaels DVDs that are collecting dust. For more info: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/15/fashion/15fitness.html?_r=1&oref=slogi...

video games do not solve obesity. this isnt the jetsons your average american does not have machine do their work out for them. As long as corn and hydrogenated oils are in every product we eat.. and as long as americans eat 1st 2nd 3rd and 4th meals we will remain obese.

Sure, even grandmothers love them!

It's unlikely it will have a noticeable affect on obesity in America.

As a certified personal fitness trainer and a senior I think any RAPID and CONTINUOUS movement of the arms will be some help as long as it is not being used to feed a person! We are currently working on a non-Wii app that will REALLY move people and reward them at same time!

Definitely a step in the right direction. The balance board is a very precise scale, and Wii Fit will monitor your daily weight loss progression. It won't solve the problem, but maybe it will increase individuals body awareness.

Marshe u make so much sense,i dont need 2 say much.Its the same old thing,u finish playing the wii and then u go 2 mc donalds.Maybe it would help if it wasnt a hand held controller also,or if it was the only system on the planet.

Well, it's definitely not going to solve the obesity problem, or, as Paul said, even have a noticeable effect. But it is a step in the right direction (albeit a very, very small step), and since Americans are still going to go to McDonald's I suppose it's better that we at least burn a few calories playing the Wii beforehand...

Yes and no for the same reason: the price. The tech workout will appear to business professionals that would not "game", but a nearly $400 investment is a stretch for the masses. A $5 value meal available 24 hours-a-day is too strong of a foe for the Wii Fit

I don't think a video game can solve America's obesity dilemna. It takes more than just physical work but a cultural and psychological change regarding food, exercise and body image. Video games aren't that complex yet.

Obesity is mainly to do with diet and eating to much. So is it realistic to expect a video game to solve Americas obesity problem? It could play a part in making excersize fun and accessible, but solving obesity - I'm not convinced.

I am actually excited about the fit, my kids and I play Wii on weekends and I want to do the yoga. I think it will expand beyond the video gamers.

The Nintendo Wii has been successful because of its reach to mainstream audiences. Wii Fit will only continue that. As for solving obesity -- it takes more than a game for a person to change their life.

I am not sure the Wii Fit will necessarily solve the obesity crisis in America but I think video games have always been deemed a contributer to the problem. Gamers are often referred to as 'couch potatoes', resulting from the lack of physical movement required. I think the Wii works towards changing the way we interact with games, providing us a digital world in which more than just our fingers get a workout. We can only hope that the Wii is just the beginning of bringing some awareness about the issue of obesity to our tech savvy generation.

If people see the offerings re physical activity in the Wii system as 'fun enough&/or 'challenging enough', they will get off their oversize duffs and try them. If they feel appropriately challenged, they will keep using them. That's about par for every 'system' of physical fitness I've ever come across. Certainly people aren't going to lose weight or get in shape sitting.. A bigger contributor to the growing obesity problem is the addition of High Fructose Corn Syrup to over 70% of the processed foods in the typical U.S. diet, however. Recently-published studies on this very toxic substance strongly supports my concerns.. I cut this out of my diet and lost 45 lbs. in about 6 months - over 20 years ago, when I was doing lots of hard physical labor in the company I had then. That kind of success speaks for itself, and it also says that exercise by itself is not the answer. But then, you cannot run any engine on the wrong fuel...

No. If obese people don't have the motivation to get in the gym, they'll display similar laziness when trying to stick to any Wii Fit exercise program.

Why just America's problem? It's a global issue.

Nope, obesity wins. I do think it's a great marketing strategy by Nintendo though. If parents are faced with a choice between 2 video games such as Xbox360 or the Wii they may be swayed to the Wii because it seems to be "healthy"! Nice job Nintendo...game on!