Nintendo Wii gets the AHA thumbs-up

May 19, 2010Michael O'Riordan

Dallas, TX - Parents are no longer able to play the exercise card when it comes to video games, not with the latest endorsement from the American Heart Association (AHA). The video-game maker Nintendo is now allowed to put the AHA "heart check" logo on all Wii virtual exercise and active game systems, making a more difficult case for parents asking kids to put away the console and hop on their bikes for exercise [1].
The partnership between Nintendo and the AHA, which might appear strange given the obesity epidemic in the US, was announced Monday. More than 70% of Americans are completely sedentary, according to the AHA, so this latest move is designed to make exercise more accessible and fun.
The AHA heart logo, which will appear on the Nintendo Wii system, as well as video games Wii Fit and Wii Sports Resort, is part of a nationwide program to let consumers know that the organization considers the system and games healthy choices. Normally, however, the heart-check seal of approval is seen on food packaging, such as Cheerios, where it shows consumers that it meets criteria for saturated fat and cholesterol.
As part of the partnership, Nintendo is donating $1.5 million to the AHA.

Fuente: theheart.org