Last month, Nintendo launched Wii Fit, which uses the Wii Balance BoardTM to monitor a player’s movements during the wide variety of health-related games, including aerobic exercise, muscle conditioning, yoga and balance games.
Upon first setting up Wii Fit, the player is asked to enter his/her height and date of birth, and the Balance Board measures the player’s weight. This information is used to calculate the player’s Body Mass Index (BMI). This, along with the player’s Wii Fit Age - which is determined by the Balance Board measuring the player’s center of balance, body control and BMI - is used to chart a player’s progress in reaching a desired BMI. Once the BMI is calculated, the player’s Mii - a virtual caricature - physically changes shape as the player is categorized as being either “obese,” “overweight,” “normal” or “underweight.”
Our Take: The BMI is widely regarded as a limited measurement of health, as it does not take into consideration factors such as gender, family history, body frame size or muscle mass. As with the BMI health report cards, which have been implemented in public school systems in some states, the Wii Fit can harm an individual’s self esteem and body image. These factors can add to the immense pressure he or she already faces in today’s society of unrealistic perceptions of beauty.
An individual’s fitness should not be based on his/her BMI, as this reinforces the lack of size acceptance in society and negatively impacts an individual’s sense of self. We believe that Nintendo should change the program, as the premise of Wii Fit - helping people become fitter, while having fun - can still be obtained without the BMI and “obese” or “overweight” labeling.
Do you agree that this use of the BMI is another way that our culture is forcing unrealistic expectations of beauty?
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