Diabetes > Diabetes News > Playing The Wii May Help Prevent Diabetes
Join myDiabetes.in
Playing The Wii May Help Prevent Diabetes
Mon, 01 Aug 2011
Researchers in Australia are investigating whether interactive computer games can help combat diabetes .

Dr Hugh Senior, Associate Professor in the school of medicine at the University of Queensland, and colleagues are to carry out a new study examining the health benefits of the Nintendo Wii for those living with type 2 diabetes.

Previous research has shown that playing tennis on the Wii for 30 minutes is equivalent to a half-hour brisk walk in terms of energy expended.

"We're looking at new technology as a form exercise, these new interactive games started out for children are now a new form of doing exercise," said Senior.

"If you're a person who doesn't normally do exercise, you're not going to go down and sign up at the tennis club, you might feel uncomfortable about that. If you play a game of Wii, with other people who are of similar fitness levels to you then it becomes fun and motivating."

Senior revealed that the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in Australia has "doubled over the past 20 years" and that 7 per cent of adults now suffer from the condition, while an additional 16 per cent of adults have glucose intolerance - a precursor for diabetes .

"People are ending up with diabetesunfortunately due to the environment they're living in and as a result the prevalence of diabetes is increasing," he continued.

"It's very easy to access high energy density foods and as such people are putting on more weight and also not exercising ."
add to favouritesnewsletterlink to this pagesend to friendpost comments
Diabetes News
Share Us