The effect of Wii Fit exergames on static balance and motor competence in obese and non-obese college women

Objective: This study aimed to assess the effect of a 6-week Wii Fit exergames intervention on the static balance and motor competence in obese and non-obese college women.

Methods: To this end, 20 obese (body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2, age 19.10 ± 0.64 years) and 20 normal-weight women (body mass index 18.5-24.9 kg/m2, age 19.25 ± 0.78 years) were recruited. Both groups were randomly divided into intervention and control groups so that the following four groups (10 women each) were created: obese control (OC), obese Wii Fit intervention (OWFI), non-obese control (NOC) and non-obese Wii Fit intervention (NOWFI). Bruininks Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOT-2) and static balance test using the Wii Balance Board were used to measure motor competence and static balance progression during the pretest and posttest. All the groups performed their common daily physical activities, and experimental groups had additional Wii Fit intervention for 6 weeks (2 sessions per week).

Results: Analysis of covariance results showed a significant improvement in the static balance and motor competence of both obese and non-obese Wii Fit groups compared to their control group counterparts (Static balance: NOC < NOWFI, p = .04, OC < OWFI, p = .004; Motor competence: NOC < NOWFI, p = .007, OC < OWFI, p < .001). Besides, the improvement in the motor competence of the obese Wii Fit group was significantly greater than that of the non-obese one (NOWFI < OWFI, p = .04).

Conclusions: In addition to the similar positive effect on the static balance of obese and non-obese college women, the use of Wii Fit exergames can improve the motor competence of obese college women more than non-obese ones.