Wii Fit BMI Argh

[ailbhe]

We set the kids up on the shiny new Wii Fit today and I was really NOT HAPPY with them measuring the kids' BMI and labelling them "at risk of overweight" and asking them to set weight-loss goals.

I cannot articulate how annoyed I was, in fact.

But the good news is that I didn't articulate how annoyed I was, particularly in front of the children. I ignored it.

I sincerely hope that the children and I gain enough weight in the next 6 months to mess with that blasted calorie-counting pig's head but good.

---

On the other hand, both children find the balance board easier to operate than the remote controls.

Comments

[biascut.livejournal.com]

When we signed up to the Wii Fit, it told me that I was within the "normal" range for BMI, but 2 points over the "ideal" figure, and would I like to set a weight loss goal. Then it told Glitz that she was within the "normal" range for BMI, but 2 points under the "ideal" figure, and congratulated her.

So yeah, it's all about health, except that we all know that health is scecretly all about weighing as little as possible. It's appalling that they don't have an exclusion on that for kids though - and I'm in awe of your not ranting about it in front of the girls!

[ailbhe]

It didn't congratulate Rob, it warned him against gaining more. He was on the line bordering underweight.

It said I was "ideal" and suggested I set a weight-loss goal of 2 BMI points.

[clanwilliam.livejournal.com]

Rob? *Rob* was warned against gaining weight?

And you were suggested a weightloss goal?

I'd probably get a "does not compute" or a "would the second person please get off the board" on mine.

[ailbhe]

Hey, given that my main health problem this pregnancy is low blood pressure, the Wii is doing me a favour!

[clanwilliam.livejournal.com]

I have to confess, I cackled at this response.

[epi-lj.livejournal.com]

It actually won't even let me play. I'm above the weight limit.

[ailbhe]

What, not just won't let you do the BMI bit, but won't let you use it at all?

...

Wow.

There isn't enough swearing in the world.

Emer is at the lower limit for making it work, weightwise, and needs to really throw herself into the moves to get any result.

[epi-lj.livejournal.com]

It won't let me use it at all.

You can hack the hardware to fake it so you can use it even if you're over the weight limit -- basically putting foam between the bits it uses to sense weight so it thinks you weight less than you do -- if you really want to play it, but I was ticked enough about that aspect that I didn't want to bother. (It's academic now, as we gave our Wii away over Christmas, but still.)

[biascut.livejournal.com]

AAAARGH!!

[deborah_c]

This is obviously not a meaning if "ideal" that I've previously come across!

[ailbhe]

You can never be too thin or too enraged I think is their point.

[naath.livejournal.com]

It told rjk 'well done' (for being slightly under 22 on the bmi) then... invited him to set a weight related goal!

Then, I told it I was 6' tall, so I was massively underweight; so it... invited me to set a weight related goal.

Stupid piece of excrement.

(I really want to set a goal of being "fitter" or even one of "getting top score on all the amusing balance games" and it measures a huge range of stuff; why will it only let you have weight related goals?)

As it happens I enjoy the games on it, and "getting more flexible" and "getting fitter" were (and are) both on my To Do list. Getting thinner can sod right off though.