With the holidays approaching, many might consider a new Wii gaming console as a great gift to promote fitness. But several recent studies suggest that while the virtual reality sports and exercises are better than nothing, they’re not a very efficient workout.

A study funded by Wii-maker Nintendo and presented at an American Heart Association meeting last month, found that only 14 out of 46 Wii activities could be considered moderate-intensity exercises.

In the game “Wii Sports,” boxing was the most effective activity to increase calories burned, but most of the sports provided less exercise than walking at a regular place. Among “Wii Fit” activities, the single-arm stand was the most energy-intensive. But most of the game’s 40 activities required little effort.

Those results mirror a pair of studies sponsored by the American Council on Exercise. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Lacrosse, found that out of six “Wii Fit” exercises tested, four would burn less than 115 calories in 30 minutes. The Island Run and Free Run activities burned about 165 calories per half hour. Previous work by the same researchers showed “Wii Sports” would be a slightly better choice, particularly the boxing. But the studies concluded the games weren’t nearly as good exercise as the real sports themselves.

— Markian Hawryluk, The Bulletin