How Does the Wii Fit Jogging Compare to Real Jogging?

Since their inception, video games have tended to be sedentary activities, with the players' hands being the most active part of the body during game play. But motion-controlled gaming systems such as the Nintendo Wii have injected more activity into video games by requiring users to get off of the couch to get into the game. While organizations such as the Mayo Clinic have hailed the Wii as a potential tool for fighting childhood obesity, Wii activities don't provide the exact same experience as their real-life counterparts. For example, the experience of Wii jogging falls short of the benefits of jogging outside.

  1. Calorie Burning

    • The exact calorie expenditure rate of any activity depends on factors such as intensity, body weight and speed. Compared to jogging outside, Wii jogging has fewer factors that contribute to a high rate of calorie burning. For example, Wii jogging requires users to lift less weight with each stride due to the lack of footwear. Likewise, Wii joggers do not gain the calorie-burning advantage of climbing hills or the increased muscle engagement of navigating uneven terrain. According to research from the American Council on Exercise, Wii activities tend to burn significantly fewer calories than the actual activities they mimic mostly because they don't engage your entire body.

    Leg Strength

    • The convenience of exercising inside your own home is certainly an advantage in terms of not having to worry about adverse weather or commuting to a track or a treadmill. However, Wii jogging is less effective for building leg strength than actual jogging. When jogging inside on a flat surface, your muscles don't have to work as hard to propel your body forward or up inclines. Specifically, jogging inside on flat, unchanging terrain will deprive you of the strength benefits training on hills offers for your calves, quadriceps and gluteal muscles.

    Core Strength

    • Running on uneven terrain -- such as natural trails -- in hilly areas helps develop your core strength because the muscles of your core are challenged as you strive to maintain balance and proper form. When you jog with a Wii game in your home, you won't get these benefits. This can hamper your transition to running in the real world, as maintaining proper form and energy efficiency depends largely on the muscles of your core.

    Enjoyment

    • According to research published in the February 2012 edition of the "Journal of Physical Activity & Health," exercising with games such as Wii jogging can be more enjoyable than traditional forms of exercise. This may promote a higher likelihood of adherence to an exercise program, meaning you're more likely to stick with your exercise regimen and improve your health for the long term.

    Atmosphere

    • If you are new to jogging and self-conscious, using the Nintendo Wii may be preferable because you have more privacy than you would while running outside. Additionally, if you have severe allergies to pollen or other outdoor allergens, the Wii may help you stay in shape without getting sick. However, jogging with the Wii will not allow you to get fresh air and sunshine -- which delivers vitamin D -- that you could obtain while jogging outside.