"Through slick advertising campaigns and product placements on popular television shows, children and adults are being brainwashed that Wii games are safe and effective ways to become physically fit."

There were so many bullshit statements in that article but this one stood out.

I work at a large Medical School/Regional Medical Center with a large sports medicine department. I talked to the head and his reply was:
-We see very few injuries related to Wii Fit and those we do see are quite minor. Tennis elbow, minor repetitive motion injury, occasion strains and one twisted ankel
-We see hundreds of cases a week from people doing what he considers healthy (safe?) exercise including many from gyms, some serious and jogging which include numerous fractures often from people tripping, sometimes over their dogs leash and unfortunately many auto-pedestrian accidents, sometimes fatal
-all exercise involves pushing the body so strains and injuries are inevitable
- exercise of the fit is better directed, albeit with a virtual trainer, than most people have when doing traditional exercises
-we recommend Wii Fit to many of our patients looking for light exercises to keep in shape and shed a few pounds
- we use in here in rehabilitation with good success
- I am familiar with the gentleman in question and do not take his opinion as authoritative in any way. He is more interested in publicity than anything else

I fine example of the hypocrisy prevalent in the US.

Very informative.  It's refreshing to have comments from someone in the same field show WiiFit in a positive light.

Good post.

The radio show beings in March on one station -- and I am not sure where that station is since there is no 1050 am signal serving LA (where Torchia is located).

I guess he is mad that Nintendo did not do what Mattel tried to do and ask him to be the spokesperson/subject of the exercise series.

http://kotaku.com/gaming/collecting/jack-lalannes-physical-conditioning-321399.php

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvsT7ZI4ikU  (4:40 in)

Mike from Morgantown

Isn't there a "take a break and go outside" message in Wii sports? what is this guy rambling about?

I can't wait to see this tool lose.

That's not true at all. Have you even used it?

I have, and I lost 12 pounds over the course of 8 weeks. It didn't take "hours and hours", but an hour every other day. I have freinds and family who use it regularly too, and they have lost weight, without "hours and hours" of time spent on it.

It's just an exercise supplement. Doing the Super Hula hoop alone will burn a ton of calories, FAST. Maybe you don't exercise, or watch calories, but you can burn calories without "hours and hours" of work.

^^^ I lost about 10 pounds also, after about 2 months of use. 30 mins a day 5 days a week, while eating conservatively.

Dieting alone is ineffective. Exercising alone is ineffective. As with all things, a happy balance of the 2 is the right path.

Don't be silly.  Both can be quite effective in themselves without one another when done properly.