Your Kids are Fat - Shut Up and Stop Complaining About It!
July 29, 2008 by Jason
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So you finally got your hands on Nintendo’s Wii Fit and can’t wait for your family to start exercising together? Great, so the first thing you do is have everyone weigh in, but wait one second. The Wii Fit just told you that your kids are overweight! You didn’t pay Nintendo close to $100 to tell you that your kids are fat right?
Before you get too upset, don’t go out and create a petition to boycot Nintendo and Wii Fit. I have heard many parents complain about this very issue and it’s really not that big of a deal. If you read the user manual that comes with the Wii Fit, it plainly states that it can only measure obesity in adults. Even though Wii Fit is intended for both young and old, it uses Body Mass Index (BMI) to determine wheter you are overweight or not. If you know anything about fitness, you are aware that BMI is an inaccurate measurement and is only a guideline or rule of thumb. The BMI formula uses your height and weight to calculate an index which is then compared against a predetermined scale. Unfortunately people who are extremely tall, short, or have a lot of muscle mass have a very skewed index. This is why the Wii Fit says kids are fat. It’s no sweat at all, but does that mean kids should not be allowed to play Wii Fit? Of course not.
Take a moment and think about what Nintendo has done for our society. Our nation has by far one of the laziest and most obese populations in the world. Our children are continually glued to computer and TV screens with hardly any time for physicall activity. Our lives have become so comfortable compared to the rest of the world and we enjoy so many more luxuries including the food we eat. Nintendo recognized this and created the Wii and Wii Fit to promote exercise and physical activity. Is this a end-all-be-all solution? No, but it’s a start and if it says your kids are fat, it will still benefit them regardless. If you are really concerned about their weight, then have them see a physician who will be able to tell you exactly where your child’s weight should be. You can also check out about.com’s boys and girls growth charts for a better measurement of where your kids should be.
The point is don’t go making a fuss because Wii Fit said your kids are fat. We all know BMI is an inaccurate measurement for children. Wii Fit is still an excellent activity for individuals and families and continues to promote good health and entertainment. Rather than immediately criticize everyone and everything, let’s thank Nintendo for what they’ve done for us and our children.
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