METABOLIC RESPONSES TO WII FITTM VIDEO GAMES
AT DIFFERENT GAME LEVELS
JENNIFER R. WORLEY, SHARON N. ROGERS, AND
Department of Kinesiology and Health Studies, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, Louisiana
ABSTRACT
Worley, JR, Rogers, SN, and Kraemer, RR. Metabolic
responses to Wii FitTM video games at different game levels.
J Strength Cond Res 25(3): 689–693, 2011—The Wii FitTM is
a form of interactive gaming designed to elicit health and fitness
benefits to replace sedentary gaming. This study was designed
to determine the effectiveness of Wii FitTM fitness games. The
purpose of the study was to determine the %V_ O2max and
energy expenditure from different Wii FitTM games at different
levels including the step and hula games. Eight healthy young
women completed a preliminary trial to determine V_ O2max and
later played the Wii FitTM during 2 separate counterbalanced
trials. During each session, subjects played levels of Wii FitTM
games for 10 minutes each level. One session involved
beginning and intermediate hula, and the other session involved
beginning and intermediate steps. The V_ O2 was measured
continuously via metabolic cart, and rating of perceived exertion
(RPE) was assessed at the end of each game level. The lowest
%V_ O2max, kcal
min21, and RPE occurred during the beginning
step game and the highest values occurred during the
intermediate hula game. Respiratory exchange ratio was
significantly higher in the intermediate hula than beginning
hula game but was not significantly different between step
game levels. The intermediate hula and step games produced
the greatest energy expenditure with an equivalent effect of
a walking speed of .5.63 km
h21 (.3.5 miles
h21). This is the
first study to determine the percentage of V_ O2max and caloric
expenditure elicited by different Wii FitTM video games at
different game levels in adults. Findings suggest that the Wii
FitTM can be used as an effective activity for promoting physical
health in this population.
KEY WORDS active gaming, energy expenditure, oxygen
consumption, respiratory exchange ratio
Address correspondence to Robert R. Kraemer, rkraemer@selu.edu.
25(3)/689–693
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
Ó 2011 National Strength and Conditioning Association
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Copyright © National Strength and Conditioning Association Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
ROBERT R. KRAEMER
INTRODUCTION
V
ideo gaming has become a popular recreational
pastime of many people around the world. In
addition to the prevalence of child participation in
gaming, as much as 45% of the adult population in
the USA also plays video games with some evidence
suggesting that greater participation is associated with poorer
mental and physical health in this population (13). A recent
trend has been to develop new video games that incorporate
physical activity into gaming, rather than relying on
traditional sedentary gaming activity. This trend is an effort
to counter the negative effects of sedentary gaming and
theoretically would allow game manufacturers to capitalize
on the potential positive effects of gaming on physical fitness
and health.
Products such as Nintendo’s Wii FitTM are advertised as
a new way to work out from the comfort of your own home.
In addition to children, data suggest that adults are also
involved in using this new mode of gaming to improve and
maintain physical fitness (5). Some data suggest that active
video games significantly increase total body movement and
energy expenditure compared to sedentary gaming (1–5,10).
Although some accurate energy expenditure data exist
regarding caloric expenditure in children (12) and young
male college students (11) playing a video dance game,
Dance, Dance RevolutionTM, to our knowledge, only 1 study
has used an accurate method of measuring oxygen
consumption (V_ O2) and energy expenditure to determine
the effectiveness of the Wii FitTM in adults (8). Moreover, we
are not aware of any studies that have accurately determined
the percentage of maximal oxygen uptake elicited by these
active video games in individual participants nor are we
aware of any studies that have determined the effect of game
level (intensity) on V_ O2.
Accurate determination of V_ O2 and energy expenditure in
different video games and game intensity levels, which has not
previously been done, is critical in establishing the viability of
this form of active gaming to improve health status.
Understanding the V_ O2 and caloric cost of different video
games and game levels would allow game users to accurately
determine the time required to meet aerobic exercise intensity
recommendations and to change the game or game level to
meet a specific caloric expenditure requirement. Adjusting the
game level or game time to achieve known metabolic rates and
VOLUME 25 | NUMBER 3 | MARCH 2011 | 689
 Metabolic Responses to Wii FitTM
caloric costs would enable the user to meet goals for physical
fitness and overall health.
This study was conducted to precisely determine the effect
of 2 of the more popular Wii FitTM aerobic fitness games and
game levels on V_ O2, energy expenditure, and percentage of
V_ O2max. We hypothesized that the V_ O2 and energy
expenditure from the step and hula games at the intermediate
game level would be comparable to moderate to brisk
walking and would elicit an oxygen cost equivalent to
approximately 30% V_ O2max. In addition, we hypothesized
that the game level would significantly affect V_ O2 and caloric
expenditure and that higher game levels would be better for
meeting recommended energy expenditure requirements for
improved health.
METHODS
Experimental Approach to the Problem
Subjects performed 2 exercise sessions employing a within-
subject study design. The sessions consisted of a preliminary
trial for basic cardiorespiratory fitness assessment and 2
subsequent sessions, 2 days apart, in a counterbalanced
fashion in which they performed different video games, step
and hula, at different game levels, beginner and intermediate.
The V_ O2, percent V_ O2max, caloric expenditure, respiratory
exchange ratio (RER), and rating of perceived exertion
(RPE) were assessed and compared between the 2 trials.
Measuring V_ O2 and percent V_ O2max allowed for accurate
determination and comparison of the oxygen cost and the
induced cardiorespiratory stress between the step and hula
games in response to the beginning and intermediate game
stages. Measuring RER allowed for accurate determination
and comparison of carbohydrate as well as fat use and (com-
bined with V_ O2 data) kcals expended per minute between the
step and hula games at the beginning and intermediate game
levels. Measuring RPE allowed for determination of effort
perception. Collectively, these variables were analyzed to
determine whether oxygen and caloric cost of these 2 games
along with substrate use and effort perception at an inter-
mediate stage were greater than that elicited by a beginning
stage and equal to values found from walking at 3.5 mph.
These data could be used subsequently to establish the
viability of the Wii FitTM hula and step games for health
improvement.
Subjects
Volunteers were recruited from a university student pop-
ulation. The experimental procedures of the study were
approved by the Southeastern Louisiana University In-
stitutional Review Board. Eight apparently healthy female
college students (mean 6 SD age, height, weight, and
V_ O2max = 21.88 6 2.20 years, 170.25 6 7.29 cm, 71.31 6
11.13 kg, and 33.11 6 2.33 ml
kg21
min21, respectively)
completed a medical history questionnaire and gave written
informed consent to participate in the study. None of the
subjects was a college athlete engaged in a strenuous aerobic
the TM
690 Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
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training regimen. Exclusion criteria for participation in the
study included (a) history of any cardiovascular disease, (b)
presence of metabolic diseases that could affect metabolic
responses, for example, diabetes, (c) taking prescription
medications that could affect metabolic or cardiorespiratory
measures, and (d) inability to complete 30 minutes of Wii Fit
activityTM. Each subject participated in 3 separate sessions.
Session 1
The first session consisted of preliminary height and weight
measurements and a graded exercise test to determine
V_ O2max. The V_ O2max was assessed on a treadmill by
measuring respiratory gases with an automated system
(ParvoMedics, TrueOne 2400, Sandy, UT, USA). Before
each V_ O2max determination, gas analyzers were calibrated
with gases of known composition. Subjects began the graded
exercise test at 2.5 mph and 4% grade. Every 2 minutes, the
treadmill speed was increased 1 mph and 4% grade remained
constant (Kraemer Protocol). Subjects reached V_ O2max with
achievement of either the primary criterion of a plateau in
V_ O2 with increased workload or with 2 of 3 secondary
criteria: (a) attained predicted maximal HR, (b) RER . 1.1,
or (c) an RPE (15-point Borg scale) of 19 or 20. After the
V_ O2max test, the subjects were familiarized with both the Wii
FitTM step and hula games.
Sessions 2 and 3
During the next 2 sessions, the subjects played the Wii FitTM
aerobic step and hula games. Sessions 2 and 3 were scheduled
at least 2 days apart, and exercise was restricted for 24 hours
before each trial. Subjects began the testing sessions in a 2–4
hours postprandial state. Subjects had varying experience
levels with the Wii FitTM. To control as much as possible for
experience level, we allowed each subject to become familiar
with the game for several minutes after V_ O2max testing in the
preliminary trial, and we allowed subjects to adjust to the
game for 7 minutes at each stage before measuring V_ O2.
Before subjects began the games, resting HR and blood
pressure (BP) were recorded. Subjects then performed the
game for 1 minute as a warm-up followed by 10 minutes at the
game level. Subjects completed 3, 10-minute game stages with
5-minute rest between stages allowing time to measure and
record HR, BP, and RPE (6–20, Borg scale) of the subject. The
games were counterbalanced for each subject. The first and
second 10-minute stages consisted of beginning or in-
termediate step or hula. The third 10-minute stage was used
to monitor subjects’ responses to both advanced step and
boxing; however, several subjects did not meet the proper
step sequence, which resulted in data from the third
10-minute period not being viable for steady-state V_ O2
determination; therefore, only data from the first and second
10-minute stages were analyzed. The subject’s V_ O2 and RER
were measured continuously while playing each game using
the same metabolic cart used in session 1. From the V_ O2 data,
energy expenditure (kcal
min21) and RER were determined.

Figure 1. Values represent mean 6 SE for %V_ O2max of subjects playing
Beginning and Intermediate Step and Hula games. *Significantly different
from the beginning level of the same game. **Significantly different from
the beginning level of the step game.
The stages (beginning and intermediate) included multiple
game sessions so that they added up to 10 minutes each stage,
that is, the beginning hula game session only lasted
approximately 2 minutes, so the game was restarted multiple
times encompassing 10 minutes of play. The reason why we
chose 10-minute stages was because of the nature of the video
games. We wanted each subject to reach and maintain a
steady-state V_ O2. Steady-state V_ O2 is typically reached within
2–3 minutes in aerobic activity. In the case that the subject
was frustrated by the game because of differences in
experience or skill, the 10-minute time period allowed them
to respond to the game and adjust their movements so that
after 7 minutes, the V_ O2 was expected to be stable and could
be measured as steady-state V_ O2 during the last 3 minutes of
the 10-minute game stage. Data reviewed from the subjects
across the 10-minute stage indicated that indeed this was the
case. In addition, we viewed 10 minutes as a duration
Figure 2. Values represent mean 6 SE for caloric expenditure of
subjects playing Beginning and Intermediate Step and Hula games.
*Significantly different from the beginning level of the same game.
**Significantly different from the beginning level of the step game.
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Figure 3. Values represent mean 6 SE for respiratory exchange ratio of
subjects playing Beginning and Intermediate Step and Hula games.
**Significantly different from the beginning level of the step game.
representing typical time players spend at a game level before
becoming bored and changing games or game levels.
Statistical Analyses
The V_ O2 during the last 3 minutes of each 10-minute stage for
beginner and intermediate hula and step was used for
analysis. V_ O2 (L
min21) was converted to %V_ O2max for each
subject. %V_ O2max, RER, caloric expenditure (kcal
min21),
and RPE were analyzed using dependent t-tests. Differences
were considered significant at an alpha level of p # 0.05.
Energy expenditure from carbohydrate and fat use during the
last 3 minutes of each game phase was determined by
multiplying the average V_ O2 in liters per minute for each
minute by the caloric equivalent of the corresponding RER
using standard thermal equivalents of oxygen utilization
based on nonprotein RER. In a few cases in which RER
slightly exceeded 1.0, an energy equivalent of 5.047 was used.
Figure 4. Values represent mean 6 SE for rating of perceived exertion
subjects playing Beginning and Intermediate Step and Hula games.
*Significantly different from the beginning level of the same game.
**Significantly different from the beginning level of the step game.
VOLUME 25 | NUMBER 3 | MARCH 2011 | 691
 Metabolic Responses to Wii FitTM
RESULTS
Analyses revealed that %V_ O2max was significantly higher for
the intermediate step than for the beginning step game level
(Figure 1). Although mean values were higher for the
intermediate hula game level than for the intermediate step
game level, %V_ O2max was not significantly different between
games at the intermediate level. Percent V_ O2max ranged from
30.6% for the beginning step to 39.4% for intermediate hula.
As expected, caloric expenditure followed the same pattern
as %V_ O2max with significantly higher kcal
min21 for the
intermediate step and hula than beginning step and hula,
significantly greater kcal
min21 for intermediate hula than for
the beginning step, but similar values at the intermediate level
for both games (Figure 2).
Respiratory exchange ratio was not significantly different
between the intermediate and beginner game levels (Figure 3).
Respiratory exchange ratio values ranged from 0.91 to 0.96.
The RPE was lowest in the beginning step and highest in
intermediate hula with perceptions of effort significantly
affected by game level and intermediate hula being
significantly greater than in the beginning step (Figure 4).
One of the ways in which the physiological responses to
active gaming can be determined to be effective is to compare
the responses to those of other modes of exercise. We
compared the V_ O2 and energy expenditure rates for
beginning and intermediate hula and step to that of grade
walking. Using standard equations that predict V_ O2 from
walking speed (14), we determined that the lowest V_ O2 value
(10.13 ml
kg21
min21) was equivalent to a walking speed
of 4.02 km
h21 (2.5 miles
h21) and the highest V_ O2
(13.14 ml
kg21
min21) was equivalent to walking 5.79 km
h21
(3.6 miles
h21).
DISCUSSION
Data from the study substantiated the hypotheses that the
video games would elicit a %V_ O2max of approximately 30%
and that game level would affect oxygen and caloric cost of
the physical activity. This study revealed that the metabolic
responses to the Wii FitTM games of step and hula elicited
greater %V_ O2max and energy expenditure values at higher vs.
lower game levels of the same game and that greater values
were produced by the intermediate hula compared with the
beginning step game. This is the first investigation to
determine the precise V_ O2, %V_ O2max and caloric expenditure
in response to Wii FitTM active gaming at different game
levels in adults. The data presented in this study suggest that
this form of active gaming can be used to generate important
health benefits generally produced by aerobic exercise in
adults, especially at higher game levels.
Playing short intervals of Wii FitTM aerobic games has been
compared to light to moderate intensity activities, such as
walking or jogging (6), but there are few studies that have
accurately measured oxygen cost and caloric expenditure of
these games. In this study, the highest RER (0.96), highest %
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V_ O2max (39.8%), and the highest caloric expenditure
(4.70 kcal
min21) values were found during intermediate
hula. This could be attributed to the fact that the hula
involves more total body movement exercise than step and
uses more muscle groups. The lowest of these values was
found during the beginning step game. This could be
attributed to the fact that the step game at this lower intensity
level involves mostly lower limb work without additional
upper body muscle contractions, with a constant step up and
step down on the board compared to the constant swivel
motion of the whole body.
Research has been conducted with children playing the
Dance Dance Revolution game (1,11,12) and with adults
playing 2 other games, XaviX J-mat and XaviX bowling (7).
These investigations have reported increases in HR and
caloric expenditure in subjects playing these games. Another
study investigated the effects of the Wii FitTM to improve
balance, strength, and aerobic power in women (30–58 years)
over 10 weeks. They found no significant improvements in
aerobic power based on a 6-minute walk test (9). This study
did not use open circuit spirometry as we did to measure the
subject’s aerobic power. A recent and very thorough study by
Miyachi et al. (8) compared the caloric costs of a number of
Wii FitTM games using a metabolic chamber. The caloric
expenditure values that were presented for hula and step
were within a range similar to those presented in this study,
but the investigators did not differentiate between stage
levels, nor did they measure the subjects V_ O2max to
determine the percentage of V_ O2max the active video games
represented.
Thus, this study clearly demonstrates that the Nintendo
Wii FitTM hula game produces greater metabolic stress and
energy expenditure than does the step game with an
equivalent effect of a walking speed .3.5 mph (American
College of Sports Medicine Metabolic Equations). Moreover,
increases in game level significantly increase oxygen con-
sumption and caloric expenditure in these games. Future
studies should consider the effects of age and gender on
caloric cost and metabolic responses to the wide variety of
Wii FitTM games to develop recommendations for optimal
benefit by the general population.
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
Data from this study suggest that this form of active video
gaming (step and hula) can be used as an effective mode of
physical activity to improve health in adult women, but that
users should strive to participate at higher (intermediate)
game levels for fitness improvement.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We wish to thank the subjects for participation in the study.
We also wish to thank Michelle Francois for her work in the
laboratory. There is no disclosure of funding to report for this
study.

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