Wii Fit Plus: A Healthy Video Game? The British Think So

When the Wii Fit came out, I was among many who wondered, "Is this a fitness tool or a video game?" After buying the Nintendo system and trying a few of the games (and experiencing the soreness the day after), my opinion was that, yes, the Wii Fit and Wii Fit Plus are definitely tools that can benefit fitness and facilitate weight loss.

Turns out I'm not alone. The UK Department of Health has decided to give the Nintendo Wii Fit Plus its approval, reports BBC News. This marks the first time the UK Department of Health has ever given a nod of approval to a computer game.

The biggest change consumers will notice is the addition of the Change4Life logo to the Wii Fit Plus. Change4Life is a campaign in the UK aiming to keep people from becoming overweight by encouraging them to exercise more and eat healthy.

"Active video games, where kids need to jump up and down or dance about as part of the game, are a great way to get kids moving more," a Department of Health spokesperson tells BBC News. Dr. Ian Campbell of the non-profit Weight Concern adds, "The biggest barriers to increased activity are lack of time, cost, and embarrassment so being able to exercise at home can, for some people, help them overcome this."

The only problem is, in many homes, these games fail to get people moving once the novelty has worn off. Have you experienced the Wii Fit as a fad?