Outside Reading: Wii Fit tells 10-year-old she's fat

To take a break from my normally somewhat "Serious" readings, I decided to read something a little more humorous. The Wii fad, along with the Wii Fit, has been riddled with many random negative issues, such as broken TV's due to users not using the wrist strap on the controller. A little more disturbing issue isn't in the game, but in some of the responses to what the article talked about. The article told the story of a 10 year old girl being told she was overweight by Wii Fit's BMI calculator. What interested me was the reaction first of all by the girls step father, but even more by a journalist. The girls step-father did have to convince this girl she wasn't fat, but bringing it to the level in the press that he did was a waste of time. Most people I know that have read this, just laugh because the situation is so ridiculous. What was even more interesting was the journalists comments on it. She said, "IIam absolutely aghast that children are being told they are fat. A child's BMI can change every month and it is perfectly possible for a child to be stocky, yet still very fit. I would be very concerned if children were using this game and I believe it should carry a warning for parents" This journalist, Tam Fry, suggested that the game be banned for kids, and be an 18+ game. When a game company tries to do something good for our declining health as a nation, somebody has to make it an issue. 

http://www.gamespot.com/news/blogs/sidebar/909182374/26390271/wii-fit-tells-10-year-old-shes-fat.html