We’ve already heard about devastated teens and tweens being told they’re overweight by the Wii Fit, and seen Nintendo’s solution with a strip of carboard saying these results are ineffective for people under 20. But what about the impact it can have on adults? As this issue has been brought up time and time again acknowledging the fragile self esteem of children, we’ve neglected its affect on everyone else. In a time when more people are swallowing anti-depressants and climbing into the obese bracket, one must consider the relationship between positive self image, happiness, and physical health. The Wii Fit has presented us with a useful tool to aid our journey to physical fitness, at the cost of our mental health.

So many comments regarding Wii Fit’s blunt methods have been is support of Nintendo, saying that people need to be told that they’re fat, end of story. I agree people need to be aware of their physical condition, but when utilizing an archaic means of body fat assessment it’s not necessary to inflate the users Mii and announce “Overweight,” in a high pitch voice. With a more accurate calculation, factoring in bone structure and muscle mass, it would be fair to burn those dreaded words across the screen. I can’t, however find any justification for turning the players Mii into a blimp, with ill fitting clothes. Way to perpetuate the stereotype that overweight people are sloppy, high five Nintendo!

The Wii Fit further ingrains poor generalizations and unhealthy habits when it demands a player to rationalize a weight fluctuation with options like “Too much snacking.” Many health experts have discouraged daily weigh- ins, as water and other physiological activity can cause a several pound fluctuation on a day to day basis. Instead, experts favor weekly weigh-ins for an accurate assessment of weight loss and gain. This method also helps prevent number obsession. Wii Fit does not feel the same way.

Wii Fit does not care about your weight obsession or insecurity. The plastic balance board urges you to do your fit test, with obligatory weigh-in at the end. It even stops you from playing games if you haven’t completed a fit test and your weight does not match its most recent recording of your stats. If you select “I’m not sure,” as the least guilt tripping answer for a gain, it mocks you. “Are you sure you don’t know why?”

The Wii Fit dazzled and pleased like the Trojan horse, and we welcomed it into our homes. But looking inside, Wii Fit users are faced with their childhood bully, negative family members and friends, indifferent doctors, and ignorant strangers. That stupid plastic balance board embodies every negative comment, masked with fake concern, one has ever received.

In essence the Wii Fit and Nintendo have neglected one of the most essential fundamentals for creating a fit body and healthy life style, and that’s body acceptance. Without the ability to respect yourself now, even at your worst, you can’t care about yourself to make the right choices to reach healthy goals. Those with poor self image are prone to disordered eating, have a harder time committing to a health regimen, or struggle with taking it too far.

Despite all these flaws I believe the Wii Fit could be an incredible tool for its target audience. Changes such as the ability to customize the types of reminders and announcements it gives would make it friendlier. Better fat assessment would make it more reliable. Replacing negative imagery and inquisition with motivational visuals and positive reinforcement would make it an experience people would enjoy and return to with enthusiasm.

But maybe I’m just expecting too much from the company that gave me my beloved track mat, that I could spend hours running on without even think it was exercise. Then again, maybe not.

-Sarah Tomesky

Tags: Nintendo, Wii, Wii Fit

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