Wii Fit games ‘can benefit patients with diabetes’

Playing the popular exercise game Wii Fit can help type 2 diabetes patients to manage their condition and improve their quality of life, according to new research.

A team from the West German Centre for Diabetes and Health recruited 220 diabetic patients and asked half to use the Nintendo game Wii Fit Plus for half an hour a day over three months.

After 12 weeks, the group who played the Wii game experienced reduced fasting blood glucose levels and body mass index, while daily physical activity, subjective wellbeing and quality of life also increased significantly. Moreover, the number of patients with depression decreased.

Similar results were seen in the control group when they started using the game after the initial 12 weeks.

Dr Richard Elliott of Diabetes UK said: "Different forms of physical activity might work better for different people. Further research will be needed to identify the long-term effects of such games compared to other approaches."

Wii Fit Plus is the second in a series of fitness-focused games from Nintendo that encourage players to get active using motion-sensing controllers and a weighing device called the Balance Board.