Wii Fit

Wii Fit

Is there too much guilt over health and fitness?

I don’t know about you but I am starting to get sick of being guilt tripped about health and fitness. The other week I was at a friend’s place and had a go on Wii fit, a game that until that point I had avoided like the plague. Now don’t get me wrong, I appreciate that keeping fit and staying healthy is important. But as far as I could see the game was just a way for Nintendo to make money out of something you’d probably be doing anyway.

I’d heard that Wii fit makes you think you’re much more unfit than you really are, and sure enough when I stepped (with some trepidation) onto the scales the game informed me that I was very overweight. Now, I’m not claiming to be the picture of perfect fitness – I’m not supermodel skinny and although I do get regular exercise and eat healthily most of the time, I know I could be fitter. But I’m not fat, and I’m definitely not obese. It’s hardly surprising there have been so many complaints about Wii fit, when you think how many people already have body issues because of the media constantly telling us that we should all look like Kate Moss or Angelina Jolie.

It’s true that obesity is a real problem in society, especially amongst children and young people, but is making everyone feel bad about themselves really the best way to deal with it? The latest initiative being tested in Liverpool to combat obesity is to stop it before it becomes an issue, by giving all children under five free gym memberships. The existing scheme of free memberships for school children is one thing, but surely under fives should be getting all their necessary exercise from their normal daily play? And if not then the real issue in society is surely not overweight children, but the question of why these children are not able to play as they should anymore.

As for me, Wii fit succeeded in making me feel guilty for a grand total of five minutes. Then I remembered my healthy diet, regular exercise and that I don’t drink too much or eat fast food, and realised that I have nothing to feel guilty about. And I’ve since found a brilliant new way of staying fit without taking too much time out of my routine – FitFlops. Flip flops that actually give you a workout and help keep you in shape as you go about your normal day – genius!

Wii Fit — full trailer from E307