Are Wii active?

A lot of us have taken advantage of the revolution in gaming technology and gotten hooked in to the latest interactive video games. These game consoles are a hit with young and old alike, with everything from tennis to dancing, we can all find an interactive sport application to enjoy.

Did you know:

• A study presented at the American College of Sports Medicine’s Annual Meeting 2009 showed that Nintendo Wii’s Bowling significantly increased heart rate, boosted mood and helped older-adult participants feel refreshed and energized.
• Another study showed that time spent playing motion and gesture controlled video games can count towards the daily amount of exercise required to maintain cardiovascular fitness according to guidelines provided by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), provided they are played in an active fashion.
• Research also shows that children can benefit from the new home gaming technology as well. Studies suggest that engaging in these physically active games requires more than twice the energy of traditional video games and raises children’s activity levels enough to meet guidelines for moderate-intensity activity.

The SIRC collection contains a variety of studies examining how physically interactive games can help get people of all ages get up and moving. Check some out today!

Weighty matters

The latest position stand from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) on weight loss and the prevention of weight regain highlights the continuing battle with obesity and overweight in the North American population. According to the statement “overweight and obesity affects more than 66% of the adult population and is associated with a variety of chronic diseases”. The Canadian Academy of Sports & Exercise Medicine (CASEM) discussion paper on physical inactivity in children and adolescents indicates that “over the past several decades, obesity has increased by 54% in children 6 to 11 years old and 39% in adolescents 12 to 17 years old”.

Recommendations from these organizations for weight loss and preventing weight gain include:

• 150-250 minutes per week of moderately vigorous physical activity should be sufficient for preventing weight gain greater than 3%
• physical activity lasting longer than 150 minutes per week usually results in modest weight lossc
• consistent physical activity is the best predictor of sustained weight management following weight loss
• most studies demonstrate that combining caloric restriction (diet) and physical activity in a weight management program has encouraging weight loss results
• exercise programs combining aerobic training and resistance exercise show superior results for weight and fat loss

All the more reason for us to get out there and get active!

For more information on physical activity and body weight contact SIRC.