Wii Fit says you're overweight and that's bad?
Is it just me or is it time for people to relax?
A recent story from Mail Online details obesity experts' issues with Nintendo's latest blockbuster, Wii Fit. According to the story, a ten-year-old girl was playing the game and after telling it how old she was and what her height is, it measured her weight and told her that she's overweight.
In a fit of rage, obesity experts condemned the title claiming it could harm a child's self-image and called on Nintendo to include a warning in the game that said it's not suitable for children.
"She is solidly built but not fat," the girl's father told reporters. "She was devastated to be called fat and we had to work hard to convince her she isn't."
Now, I understand that a child's self-image is an extremely important issue in today's world and there are a number of cases where weight can have a lasting impact on the child's life. But let's also not forget that the instruction manual on Wii Fit does say that BMI calculations may not be accurate for individuals aged 2 to 20 and even those that are more muscular will probably not see the real measurement of how over- or under-weight they are.
But for the rest of us, I can't help but say that while the truth may be difficult, part of the value of Wii Fit rests in its attempt to be honest with the gamer and help that person achieve a more healthy lifestyle.
Obesity is, without a doubt, one of the most dangerous problems in the world. And while my heart goes out to those who simply cannot control their weight, I don't think a video game should be condemned for doing what it's supposed to do: evaluate your physical health and try to improve it.
Sadly, I think the world is becoming a bit too sensitive. Should a game tell a ten-year-old that she's fat? No. And surely there are other ways to tell those that are overweight that they don't fit within the more moderate BMI range. But in the end, the truth is the truth and Wii Fit is certainly not telling the world how much you weigh and how under- or overweight you are.
How is the Wii Fit calculator any different than a calculation that's done at the gym by your local trainer? I would argue that it's even worse: if someone is overweight and has issues with being told that, can you imagine the issues they must have when another person knows it? At least on Wii Fit it can be password-protected and kept between the person and the game, right?
This is not to say that obesity issues don't matter -- they absolutely do and privacy should be a major concern -- but I just don't see why we should indict Wii Fit because it informs people that they are not as healthy as they could be. Isn't that a good thing?
I think we've become too sensitive. When a video game tells me that I'm overweight, I simply don't see the problem in that if it's a game that's designed to make me healthier. And let's also not forget that it's not judging those that are overweight and is actually doing what it can to help us.
Wii Fit is not to blame and should not be blamed for telling someone that it's overweight. And if you ask me, I think we should all lighten up a bit.
Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who has written about everything from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Don is a member of the CNET Blog Network, and posts at The Digital Home. He is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure.
From: your friendly neighborhood pediatrician
20 years ago and more, it was seen as NORMAL for children and adult to be sexual together, so no one worried about it, and it didn't cause 'great mental harm'.
Now, everyone is worried about it out of their own self-interest (on the part of parents and society) and we now have some parents who will not let their children out of their home because they are so scared that someone will sex their child.
2. Who says that they haven't seen a pediatrician? When I was a child, I saw my pediatrician every once in a while for check-ups and the like. If there's nothing wrong with this girl, and she has been given regular check-ups, isn't it a bit much to suggest that she should go see a doctor on the advice of a *video game*? Maybe she's in your neighborhood and you're trying to drum up business?
3. Yes, she could go outside and play... except for when it's raining or dark out.
She simply put, wasn't fat, but she had VERY big bones.
*I* on the other hand, WAS A FAT 10 YEAR OLD kid and you know what? IT RUINED MY LIFE. I was too weak to do anything about it and, I simply had no idea how much it would ruin my life at that age.
We DO NOT TELL CHILDREN ENOUGH that THEY ARE FAT and overweight and will DIE YOUNG. We should drill it into them until they cry and rage and when they start getting angry or you can see they are utterly distraught then we (as AUTHORITATIVE ADULTS) should tell them: "Do you want to do something about it? Good. Then this is what you must do: [detailed fitness plan constructed from studying at a library or by asking the school PE teacher]". While they stay on track we should heap praise and encouragement on them. When they fall of track they should be RIDICULED AND SCORED and PUNISHED with press-ups and other (minor) pointless labour. If the kid will not comply then all privileges should be withdrawn until they buckle.
Once they shape up, AS AUTHORITATIVE ADULTS we should tell them how proud of them we are, and that we pushed them like we did because we love them; that, soon enough it will be all up to them, but while they are children we will do everything we can to give them the best start in life possible. Repeat the bit about being proud of them, and then give a big reward like a holiday for being so determined and brave, or if you haven't got the money, go camping. Anything the kid will like.
Many fat kids suffer horrific abuse as children. I did. I am not longer fat, but I am not normal individual you would want in your society. That isn't who I was meant to be. Sometimes you have to use the stick to be kind, just don't forget the carrot. Being too soft on children can cripple them with kindness.
If the government really wanted to do something about it, they could start publicly funded "fat camps" where parents could put their kids. The kids would have an option to go to a camp in a different geographical location so all the local children don't know they spent the summer holiday at "fat camp". The money could be recouped from savings in social security and public medical insurance payments. Every kid is entitled to one free pass. That way, when the parents were too weak to do anything about it, the state could.
Oh, and for the "Utopia" section on the off-chance a bored Master of the Universe up in "Hedge Fund Heights" happens to read this: The final things to do would be to start looking negatively on "fat bashing" in the media the way people do for racism. Nobody wants to give up the last bastion of people it's safe to publicly abuse but if you did this, whilst at the same putting up stark health warnings on unhealthy foods and drinks like: "Increases obesity. Obese children die young"; you will start seeing a change. Big media headlines all the time, "Big Fat Issue: America to get fighting fit" and keep bringing it into the public attention; highlighting the progress made, the problems obesity causes and reinforcing the message "fat bashing" isn't cool anymore with character assassinations on various people in the spotlight (like we did with racism) then you will see vast improvements. While this paragraph is unlikely to ever happen, we can still make a difference just with the first part of this comment.
If you agree with this message, spread it.
Like all programmes it is only as good as the input and if you move around too much or feed in incorrect data then the reading will be incorrect. I am very pleased with the Wii, it has proved very useful in regaining my fitness and my BMI and weight are falling. I think it is important to remember it is not a toy for children, you are told not to jump on the board, but if young children are using the Wii, it is hard to get them to concentrate and follow the instructions correctly.
A lot of children are rarely told they are doing something wrong, so when it happens is this ridiculing them? I believe not, rather explaining why is surely a positive action. You have to learn to take positive criticism, otherwise you could end up a spoiled brat, who listens to nobody and is allowed to do whatever they wish.
Is it any wonder the misuse of drugs and alcohol is so high.
Really?
Obesity is a problem in some developing countries, but the death toll due to obesity-related diseases pales in comparison to the world-wide death toll of malnutrition and infectious disease.
Two weeks in, and my two teenaged daughters are still loving the Wii Fit. Neither of them has missed a day so far.
My thirteen-year-old set up a password to chart her progress after she checked in as "risk of overweight" -- an assessment that strikes me as accurate. She's a few pounds heavier than she should be, and could use a firm but gentle (and objective!) nudge in the right direction. She now has a realistic, healthy target. She's on the Wii Fit every day, and has added a few other activities as well.
My fifteen-year-old is actually rated as slightly underweight -- the Fit tells her that her optimal weight is 142 lbs (both girls are tall). That figure strikes me as refreshingly sensible in contrast to what popular media would define as optimal. She particularly enjoys the yoga exercises.
The Wii Fit is no substitute for membership in a gym or on a sports team, but it's a fun way to inject a little bit of extra activity -- and a bit of daily assessment and guidance. Some features get on my nerves -- particularly the flurry of pointless conversation at startup -- but it's an excellent first attempt at a fitness game. The balance games are particularly addictive. I'm looking forward to seeing what they come up with for Wii Fit 2.