A Wii Workout

April 8th, 2007, 01:03 Posted By: wraggster

via daily record

A PERSONAL trainer is helping couch-potatoes to battle the bulge - by playing video games.

Zander Urquhart, 32, is thought to be the first fitness expert to adopt the Nintendo Wii as an exercise machine.

Four people at a time can exercise using theWii's unique motion-sensitive controller to mimic a tennis racket, baseball bat, golf club or boxing gloves.
University studies suggest players can burn 125 calories during a 15-minute session. Zander, from Glasgow, got the idea after seeing a client's son playing with the console. He said: "This five-year-old needed encouragement to do any exercise - but here he was running about for half-an-hour working up a sweat."
Zander initially targeted kids - but soon realised adults were just as keen. He said: "It's been great for adults coming back from injury and for OAPs."
Client Caroline Cassiday, 21, of Blantyre, Lanarkshire, said: "It really helped to tone me up."
A study by Liverpool John Moores University found that in an average 12.2-hour gaming week, Wii players can burn 1830 calories - shifting 27lb a year.
A Nintendo UK spokesman said: "We're not aware of anyone else doing this but it shows what the Wii can be used for."

BURNING CALORIES
According to statistics released by Food Magazine, calories burned using a Nintendo Wii for 15 to 20 minutes compare favourably with other forms of exercise.

Aerobic dancing - medium intensity, equivalent to jogging - 130
Cycling on flat ground - 125
Playing golf - 100
Playing tennis - 140
Playing football - 140

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