by James Brightman on Friday, May 16, 2008
An innocent Nintendo game about balance and fitness is probably the last product that would ever come to mind when you think about video game controversy, but Nintendo's popular Wii Fit (which went on sale in Europe in late April and is launching in the U.S. on May 19) has prompted some experts to question Nintendo's methods for measuring body weight and fitness.
A report in the U.K. paper Daily Mail highlighted an incident in which a 10-year-old girl was told by the Wii Fit software that she's "fat." The girl was very upset to be told that and the parents were none too pleased.
A famous video game creator for Japanese video game giant Nintendo, Shigeru Miyamoto, demonstrates how to use the new fitness video game on the new balancing board controller for the company's video game console Wii in Chiba, suburban Tokyo, 10 October 2007. Nintendo will launch the new fitness video game softwarer WiiFit including the balancing board controller on 01 December.
YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images
A famous video game creator for Japanese video game giant Nintendo, Shigeru Miyamoto, demonstrates how to use the new fitness video game on the new balancing board controller for the company's video game console Wii in Chiba, suburban Tokyo, 10 October 2007. Nintendo will launch the new fitness video game softwarer WiiFit including the balancing board controller on 01 December.
YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images
The famous video game creator for Japanese video game giant Nintendo, Shigeru Miyamoto, displays the new balancing board controller for the company's video game console Wii in Chiba, suburban Tokyo, 10 October 2007. Nintendo will launch a new fitness video game software WiiFit, including the balancing board controller on 01 December.
YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images
The famous video game creator for Japanese video game giant Nintendo, Shigeru Miyamoto, displays the new balancing board controller for the company's video game console Wii in Chiba, suburban Tokyo, 10 October 2007. Nintendo will launch a new fitness video game software WiiFit, including the balancing board controller on 01 December.
YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images
Tokyo, JAPAN: Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto displays the remote control of the new video game console 'Wii' at a press preview in Tokyo. Nintendo recalled 3.2 million wrist straps for its new Wii console ,15 December 2006, after reports of enthusiastic users inadvertently sending the motion-sensing controller crashing into their TV screens.
YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images
Tokyo, JAPAN: Japan's video game giant Nintendo game creator Shigeru Miyamoto (L), known as the father of Super Mario, and President Satoru Iwata playing a tennis game during a demonstration at a press conference in Tokyo. The Japanese electronic game maker Nintendo said Friday 15 December 2006 it was not recalling motion-sensing controllers for its new Wii model but would exchange wrist straps that have broken inadvertently. 'Nintendo is not recalling wrist straps furnished with the motion-sensing remote control unit for its new computer game Wii,' the company said in a French-language statement received in Paris.
YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images
Nintendo's Wii Games Console To Go On Sale In Europe
TOKYO - DECEMBER 7: Nintendo president Satoru Iwata (R) and software creator Shigeru Miyamoto (L) demonstrate game Wii during a press conference on December 7, 2006 in Tokyo, Japan. Wii will go on sale on December 8 in Europe.
Junko Kimura/Getty Images
Nintendo's Wii Games Console To Go On Sale In Europe
TOKYO - DECEMBER 7: Nintendo president Satoru Iwata (L) and software creator Shigeru Miyamoto (R) present the Wii game console during a press conference on December 7, 2006 in Tokyo, Japan. Wii will go on sale on December 8 in Europe.
Junko Kimura/Getty Images
Nintendo's Wii Games Console To Go On Sale In Europe
TOKYO - DECEMBER 7: Nintendo president Satoru Iwata (L) and software creator Shigeru Miyamoto (R) present the company's new remote games console, Wii, during a press conference on December 7, 2006 in Tokyo, Japan. Wii will go on sale on December 8 in Europe.
Junko Kimura/Getty Images
Tokyo, JAPAN: Japan's video game giant Nintendo President Satoru Iwata (L) and the company's game creator Shigeru Miyamoto, known as father of Super Mario, shows a controler from Nintendo's new video game console 'Wii' at a press conference in Tokyo 07 December 2006. Nintendo said 15 December 2006 that it will recall 3.2 million hand straps for its new Wii games console after reports of users inadvertently throwing the motion-sensing controller into their TV screens.
YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images
It's apparently worrying to Tam Fry of the National Obesity Forum as well. In Wii Fit after a player enters his/her height, the software uses BMI to measure body fat based on an adult's height and weight. Fry, however, thinks the measurement is misleading and he'd like to see children banned from playing the game.
"I'm absolutely aghast that children are being told they are fat," he said. "BMI is far from perfect but with children it simply should not be used. A child's BMI can change every month and it is perfectly possible for a child to be stocky, yet still very fit. I would be very concerned if children were using this game and I believe it should carry a warning for parents."
For its part, Nintendo acknowledged that it's not the most accurate tool for children to measure body fat and the company apologized. "Nintendo would like to apologize to any customers offended by the in-game terminology used to classify a player's current BMI status, as part of the BMI measurement system integrated into Wii Fit," a company rep said. "Wii Fit is still capable of measuring the BMI for people aged between two and 20 but the resulting figures may not be entirely accurate for younger age groups due to varying levels of development."
Have the "Parents" even bothered to explain to this child that sometimes we cannot control the production or design of a toy and if we want to use and enjoy it then maybe we just might need to overlook it's minor defects. The game also listed my 5 ft 9 in 145 lb 14 yr solid as a rock - no fat son as overweight and he just laughed it off. Get a grip...I'd rather have the game than send it back and have a "your so pretty-your so skinny" ug put in it...Just deal with it Folks!!!
Just deal with it! The kid IS probably a little porker; you can't tell how much she weighs since the Brits measure in stones.
Oh Puuuuuuuuleeeeeeeze. What happen to go out in the fresh air and exercise ? The trees do not talk back at yoiu Roflmaooooooooooooo someone has too much money to spend ...
pci510 You have to realize that people in other countries who make these games are not interested in anything but a paycheck. Many items shipped from other countries have computer chips which are programmed wrong that make you think something is wrong. Computer chips in some cars can make you take in a car to get something replaced which costs $1500.00 which actually needs nothing. The idea of a child being so called fat in the process of maturing bodily is absurd. People in some foreign countries height stature is approximately 4.5 ft tall give or take a 2 inches while the average height of an American varies but has been said to be 5.5 ft tall. Buy American games instead and this is what happened to one Wii my granddaughter took her Wii and threw it in the trash after causing muscle spasims in her arms.
BMI... Let's explain something here. It's actually VERY SIMPLE. BMI is a calculation that is strictly height to weight proposional. It does NOT measure your overall level of fitness (necessarily). It's a completely USELESS measurement if you are a muscular / fit person. Let's think about it this way. In the NFL, there are a TON of athletes who may be - let's say 5'8" (that's short for an NFLer, but you'll see my point). A typical 5'8" NFL superstar will probably weight about 200 or so. 200 lbs at 5'8" will put you at 30.8 BMI, which I believe is OBESE! I don't know the breakdowns... This is my point... The Giants had Tiki Barber, who has a tiny waist, but I believe he was 5'9" / 210, if I recall. BMI is totally useless for anyone with decent muscle mass. As we all know, muscle weighs more than fat! Use BMI, yes, but if you are muscular, KNOW THAT IT WILL BE A BALLOONED FIGURE! You should get one of those scales that measure your % body fat, instead. I have one and that figure is a lot less than my BMI. Just a few ideas and thoughts for you guys / gals.
BUSTED!!!!!!!!! There is no "FAT" category! She's 4 foot, 9 inches tall and weighs six stone. A stone unit is 14 pounds. So she weighs 84 pounds. Go online to ANY BMI calculator (for kids) and input this data. This is a NORMAL WEIGHT! I contacted the originating forum and they REFUSE to post this information. They refuse the TRUTH. They refuse simply trying this themselves. I have no doubt in my mind that this has ALL been a publicity stunt for the originating forum!!!! Try it yourself: http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/dnpabmi/Calculator.aspx (just make up a birthday in 1998 to make her 10 years old) I emailed a buddy of mine who has a Wii Fit and he was able to put a 85 pound weight on it and it says HEALTHY WEIGHT!!!! Think about it, the Wii Fit has been out for a while now. Why is this UK mother the FIRST PERSON to complain about it?
I am a personal trainer who competes in martial arts. I have 8% body fat and am very fit and muscular. My BMI is 26, which is supposedly obese. I call BMI the Bulls**t to the Max Index.
if you're offended because you were called fat then get off your ass and lose some damn weight.. I am overweight and I know it, But I don't cry when someone says something about it, CUZ IT"S THE DAMN TRUTH.. This society we live in is SO pathetic.. God forbid anyone get offended, It saddens me to think of how pathetic this world will be when my children are grown, Guess by then people will all starve to death and be homeless because they'll not be able to hold down a job because they were required to work and it caused them to break a sweat and therefore they'll sue the employers because they were made to be uncomfortable and feelings were hurt because the deoderant they chose to were didn't protect their stinky asses from BO..The generations before us Were much Tougher, stronger people, Today all anyone wants to do is sue someone. If you wanna know why you cant afford insurance or medical care, or why everythign is so expensive, it's because of the Damn frivilous lawsuits that our society files..
**** ragumshnagum on 5/20/2008 6:58 am She's offended because the game called her fat? Why should she? 4'9 and 6 stone is underweight. People just keep getting stupider and stupider.**** Yea, no kidding ragumsh.....people are stupid huh? Lets take YOU for example....you would think you would know by now there is no such word as STUPIDER! lol Try MORE STUPID....next time. *wink* ...no Offense! ;) (sorry... I HAD to) lol
WOW!!!! that is so dumb but skinny people have a complex about gaining weight join the real world enjoy the game and work towards your goals. like someone said earlier it is what you put in that gives the totals!!!! so you are fat live with it and enjoy the game it is a challenge. i would like to see when these skinny people grow up what will happen
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