Outrage as Wii Fit labels healthy child as "overweight"

In a society obsessed with image, could Wii Fit's BMI measurements mistakenly be putting more pressure on impressionable young players to become anxious over their weight?

One player explains that her healthy and active ten-year-old relative was 'devastated' when Wii Fit deemed that she was a little on the heavy side, and that the family "had to work hard to convince her that she isn't."

[Capt CHAOS]

FYI, The daughter is 92lbs and 4'9"

[Capt CHAOS]

It looks like the weighing ability in Wii fit is highly inaccurate.

[Tempist]

They may not have regionalised the game properly. It could be basing this off the Eastern standard which greatly differs from the North American standards. Also, it cannot give an entirely accurate BMI as it doesn't have the technology to run proper BMI tests.

And since when do we need consoles to get us into shape? Why have we waited to the point where someone capitalizes on that. Get out and RUN!

[JasonXE]

you will get shot/die, robbed/mug if you do. Then you will get hungry after running so much but your parents are to lazy to make food or buy groceries...thats why.

[Fat Bastard]

Maybe that little girl shouldn't be such a fat @ss

[redninja]

It's not Nintendo's fault that their kid eats too many cupcakes.

[socomnick]

The only accurate bmi test is the water one but those are mad expensive. :/ I gotta get my body fat percentage down for the summer im at 14-16 percent right now I wana drop to 10 :)

[Gondee]

If she was really 92 pounds at 4'11 than im gona say shes over weight.

So this is saying that parents dont want their kids to know that their over weight. And they would rather them eat all they wanted and get high colestral at age 10.

Stupid amercia. this is good. Now mabye the kids will know that being over wight is a bad thing and know not to eat so much.

FYI The guy living next to me has a kid thats 5'1 10 years old and 145 pounds. And the dad is constantly telling the kid that hes not over weight.

[Jeebus]

Wii Sports calls you old.

[Bonsai1214]

BMI is a simple calculation based on height and weight. but it doesn't take into account body composition. because if you're pure muscle and 5'4, it'll list you as morbidly obese.

the "pinch test" is a much better way of testing overall fitness.

FYI, BMI = ((weight in lb) x 703) / (height in inches)^2

[nintendostar]

Seriously? They're complaining about Wii Fit?
Yes its Wii Fit, the Grand Theft Auto of casual games.

[tgh machines]

Grand theft auto is a casual game...

[Mystery_Person]

I don't get the GTA "joke"....

HAHAHA NINTENDO GOT OWNED

[Mc Fadge]

But I know where they're coming from. I thought this game labels your weight in the game? So when little Jessica plays through Wii Fit and the game turns around to call her "Overweight", little Jessica is going to feel bad. Very bad. If a game calls your kids fat, it's not really helping the self-esteem, is it?

[crazy25000]

Since the media is pushing for skinny/thin people. There is nothing wrong with being skinny or healthy, but if they promote too thin than it will have negative effects on peoples mentality.

I just hope this isnt common throughout the game. Im not buying it, but im sure many people will.

[PS360WII]

"or is it all just a case of overreacting?"

hit the nail on the head right there most likely the parents were the ones upset over it not the kid which is usually the case in these.

[rbanke]

Well everyone is 'afraid' to upset people these days and now we have a huge percentage of overweight and obease people in the US. Maybe coddling people about their poor eating habits & lack of exercising isnt the best way. I'm sorry the truth upsets you...WHAAAAAAAAA

"She is 92lbs and 4ft9" tall and there is not an inch of fat on her."
BMI takes into account the height. If your BMI is outside a certain range, you are infact overweight or underweight. Just because you love your kid and dont think they are overweight, doesnt make it the truth.

[Spinner]

Well if she is 4'9" and 92lbs, then her BMI would be in the normal range ...

I've never played WiiFit, does it just come out and say "FATASS LOL"

Maybe she inputed the wrong height for her profile?

I dunno.

[perseus]

BMI is an incorrect assessment of healthy weight. Fat percentages are much more accurate, the BMI just serves as a warning that there may be a problem.

For example, Brad Pitt is considered obese by his BMI. Is he obese? My wife doesn't think so.

[tonsoffun]

BMI is not an accurate way to define if someone is overweight or not: waist/hip ratio is a far better way of recording obesity.

[MK_Red]

Wow, are those parents realling using Wii Fit as an actual measuring tool for their children!? I knew most parents were idiots but not this much...

Seriously, I'm a Wii Fit hater but here even I feel the need to defend Wii Fit against these dumb people.

[KeiZka]

Unfortunately this world is riddled with idiots for parents...

[MK_Red]

So sad but also so true :(

[KeiZka]

It's a shame the brazen idiots get to multiply.. A shame indeed. And even though they don't seem to be that idiotic normally, god forbid if something threatens their perfect little selfmade image... God no. (*Ahem*sex in games forbidden, yet violence allowed? No wonder world's so fecked up*ahem*)

[fenderputty]

I mean these are casual gamers at best here. They're not online. They don't know that the game isn't supposed to substitute actual physical activity.

I'm sure most parents just thought, "it's rated for everyone, comes from Nintendo and my child really wants it."

I, personally, wouldn't be too happy about this as a parent. Especially when my child isn't in unhealthy condition.

[ItsDubC]

BMI is not an accurate metric, but it is a popular one.

From Wikipedia:

"...BMI has become controversial because many people, including physicians, have come to rely on its apparent numerical authority for medical diagnosis, but that was never the BMI's purpose. It is meant to be used as a simple means of classifying sedentary (physically inactive) individuals with an average body composition."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

[iceman2885]

BMI is actually a crock for anyone who is considered and athlete. There is a disclaimer on pretty much every thing where BMI is used saying that scale may not apply to athletes. BMI doesn't take a person's build into account at all, it simply asks for height and weight (and if someone thinks something can tell you if your healthy or overweight just by your height and weight they are just being foolish). I mean, according to BMI pretty much every professional football player is considered grossly overweight or obese. Sorry for the rant, but its just BMI always ticks me off because "researchers" use it in studies (when its to their advantage to do so) to show a group of people are overweight or grossly overweight when it often doesn't apply, and ignorant people just trust it.

I just wonder if WiiFit has the disclaimer informing the gamer about BMI and how its calculated.

[BrianC6234]

I can't believe anyone would let a toy tell them if they're healthy. Come on, it's a Wii game. Don't let it tell you if you're healthy. It isn't a doctor. If you really want to get exercise do it the right way. Go for a walk. Ride a bike. Work out. Play a sport. Something. Don't play a videogame to get in shape.

[Capt CHAOS]

You are spot on there.. Bubbles..

[ItsDubC]

DDR can be much more physically-demanding than taking a walk.

[BrianC6234]

Maybe more demanding than your walks. I walk almost every night after work. I walk for an hour and about 3.5 miles. I'd say that's much more exercise than some dumb videogame will get me.

[ItsDubC]

You're feeling high and mighty about walking? I've never played DDR but I know through observation that it can elevate one's heartrate to a much higher level than the max attained by simply walking at 3.5 mph. It's about intensity, which is why I myself prefer to do interval training instead of jogging when I work out.

[BrianC6234]

"You're feeling high and mighty about walking?"

What's wrong with walking? It's great exercise and doesn't cost me anything besides new shoes once in a while. Where I live it's great for walking too. If everyone would walk just 20 minutes a day they'd be a lot healthier. I don't really want to get into all the working out and lifting weights. I walk to get exercise. Also, I'm a baseball fan so I listen to games on my radio when I walk. I can do two things at once.

[digger18]

My wife picked up Wii fit just over a week ago, so over the weekend I decided to have a bash on it.

I can't remember what it said about my BMI, but it said I was way overweight..lol

I'm 6ft tall and weight around 276lbs, but my body fat index is only 7% at the minute. How this can say I'm overweight is beyond me.

[PS360WII]

cuz it just uses the numbers http://www.nhlbisupport.com...

[ChickeyCantor]

@brianc
" Come on, it's a Wii game. Don't let it tell you if you're healthy"
Actually, the BMI calculations are basic.
Its not the game telling you, its a calculation used lots of times to check the average Index of your body.

If you are a kilo/pound overweight the BMI calculations will say that. but it doesn't mean you are FAT.

http://www.nhlbisupport.com...

heres one of them

http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/...

and another

[DrWan]

BMI follows a formula, is the board not weighting people properly?

But anyways, BMI doesn't take into account of muscle mass, a better way to measure risks of cardiovascular disease/complications is actually waist size. Or hip to thigh ratio

[iceman2885]

As you said BMI follows a formula using only height and mass. It doesn't take into account build or muscle mass. Better measurement of body fat is done by caliper skin pinch tests and I also believe the army uses neck to waist ratio but I may be mistaken. Regardless BMI is junk to anyone who knows anything about it.

[Lumbo]

the BMI only works for average (as in average body fat percentage, not pro sports people who have a high percentage of muscle as muscle is heavier than fat) ADULT people. for Kids the BMI is less and less accurate the younger they are, following the BMI formula ALL toddlers are grossly overweight and need to be put on a strict diet aka starving them ...

Most who "blame" the parents over this "news" fail to understand that the parents where doing EXACTLY what the blamers here told them to do ... to qoute:

"Wow, are those parents realling using Wii Fit as an actual measuring tool for their children!? I knew most parents were idiots but not this much..."

When the article clearly states: "the family had to work hard to convince her that she isn't." while PLAYING WiiFit. Nowhere a single mention that the parents ever intended to use WiiFit as tool to decide about the kids fitness. quite contrary they tried to convince the kid that it should not give so much into the result.

The Kid (brainwashed from the usual advertising flatline that people MUST be 100% thin) was feeling miserable cause the game told her that she was "overweight" when in fact she was not. Kids self esteem is VERY vulnerable at certain development periods. So a low blow such as a "game" telling you in front of your friends and family that you are fat will deliver a nice crippling blow that could result in a serious mental disorder like bulimia. Especially when the devs had their issues with the system them self hence a note in the manual that the BMI might be inaccurate for kids ... But then why flash the "you are a fat cow" sign into the face of kids if you KNOW that your calculations are not worth anything ...

[PS360WII]

lumbo this story is given to us 3rd hand. The kid could of been playing it having fun and the parents could of walked in and saw that it said she was obese and they flipped out and shouted you are not overweight and how dare you think that way my child! There really is no way of knowing plus for a 10 year old to get upset over weight already has issues instilled in her head by partents then. You shouldn't have a complex that early in life

[Silverwolf]

being 4.9" and weighing 170 been fat?!

[sleepbox]

Say it ain't so!! Nintendo has hurt a precious snowflake's feelings.

Oh, and I'm sure if I were to get on the scale it would say I was "morbidly obese"

[S1nnerman]

I don't need the wii to tell me that :)

But, on a more serious note, I can see why being told you're overweight can dent a person's self confidence - particularly a child. I hope parents are not using wii fit as a primary tool for exercise and health - it's just a game and should be treated as such. It's not a way of life.

[lizard81288]

i'm mad too! wii sports said i was 42 years old! i'm only 19!
WTF WII SPORTS!!!!

seriously, i'm assuming its how well u perform in the games, like big brain academy, wii sports, and others just like it.

[tidycats29]

Lmao!!
were your feeling hurt when you saw 42 years old lulz

I'm sure a lot of casual parents will buy this to check on their weight not as a normal fun game
thus more children will probably cry

But if the parents took the time to read the darn manual it clearly states young children results are usually innacurate

O well but in this age and era people barely look at the manuals.

[3rik]

Its a game. It sees how much you weigh and it asks for your height. Thats all it does. I think this is a major case of over-reacting.

[TABSF]

mega lol thinking of getting this but got GTA IV instead

[LJWooly]

Get over yourself, little girl.

[7h3ultim8p00]

In videogames we, also get called ninjas and mass murderers.

[TheEndzor]

I hate the BMI standards but i find this whole story funny.

Years ago "Outrage" for a game was because of killing and other violence

recently GTA4 gets those tags

Now games will anger people because they called them Fat!

[Stubacca]

You'd have thought there would have been more of an outrage about the fact wii is rubbish once you've had it a week. Where's that story? I hear it everywhere...

[LiquifiedArt]

110% Wii = 1 week of fun, then you realize you wasted 250$.

[Skerj]

If I had my way, all games would call your kids fat.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

WiiFit is taking measurements of a persons weight only and using that in relation to what is considered the "Avg" for the region (assuming it is regionalized)...Anyway regardless of that. If you are a muscular person or fit for that fact...WiiFit has now way of telling the difference between Fat body weight and muscular body weight.

WiiFit is flawed big time...and I can see this being an issue...for both the young and old as they will not understand. I can see it know..."WiiFit responsible for epidemic out break of bulimia"

[DailyAddict]

If a game just called you fat, then I'm sorry, but you just got OWNED! I mean, not to sound like a jackass, but that's pretty damn funny. Seeing as how videogames are technically one reason that has led to obesity (it's just so easy to sit at home all day, play games, and never go outside or interact within the real world) that I find this pretty damn funny for a game to call you fat because it probably holds some truth.

The fact that people are actually exercising in a freaking videogame is just ridiculous and proves how lazy we've gotten as a society. People are so damn lazy, that they are PLAYING A VIDEOGAME to exercise just to make themselves feel better since they probably haven't been outside in close to a decade and couldn't find their penis/vagina if their life depended on it.

I'm sorry, but when I first even heard of this game I just sort of shook my head in disbelief that as a society we've gotten to the point that the only way you'll get lazy people to exercise is in a damn videogame. People should really be ashamed of this, I'm sorry.

[599 US Dollars]

lmfao. fat b1tch! put the cake down!

[iamtehpwn]

This was configured by the Japanese, and Asians typically have smaller body types than Caucasians, Blacks, and Hispanics in America. So, I'm not that surprised.

[ElementX]

Too many doctors these days are being PC and not commenting on the children's obesity issue. Doctors should tell parents when their children are overweight. All you inner city people, get real jobs so you can afford food other than McDonalds and Popeyes

[Skerj]

That sh*t's the cheapest man, and it's not as easy as telling someone to get a "real" job. I'm pretty sure most of the people with "real" jobs hate where they're at and wish they could leave. This I know because I was one of those and I know a TON of those.

Right now the dangerous chemical injected food is the cheapest, and for people on a budget it's really the only option if you're trying to survive. Hell I don't even eat fast food but even I'm sometimes tempted to just go to McD's and get 2 double cheeseburgers for 2 bucks and get full. You get the same effect in the end as spending 10 bucks on a meal somewhere else (sans obesity). Ever realize that bottled water is more expensive than Soda?

[BISHOP-BRASIL]

The is huge problems when measuring somebody's mass.

Biologically talking, people have differents structures for their bones and their muscles, and different distribution of the fat.

You can't apply the same computer exam for an asiatic, that there is one structure and is based in some kind of alimentation, to an middle european, with another structure also build up around another kind of alimentation.

That is why, still today, we don't measure you completally with machine, we need a prefessional looking over the process and calibrating it for your specific case. I do have 130kg, which could looks like a lot (in fact, I'm over the ideal) but I'm also 1,9 m (about 6,25 feet) tall. If I was too much under 100kg, I would probably be missing the muscles to support myself upright.

Anyway, I can't take on Wiifit... I would brake it.

[Tyrael]

Lol, one more thing the Wii can't deliver on. I'm sorry, that was borderline fanboyish...

[ECM0NEY]

ITS CALLED SELFESTEEM! THE STEEM OF YOUR MOTHER FVCKING SELF! How can a game effect it?

[Not the Face]

these parents want somthing...call Jack

[lizard81288]

i was being sarcastic if anybody could tell.

[i'm mad too! wii sports said i was 42 years old! i'm only 19!
WTF WII SPORTS!!!! ]