American Heart Association and Nintendo

Working Together

Welcome to the American Heart Association and Nintendo of America Online Information Center!
As leaders in their respective fields, the American Heart Association and Nintendo are joining forces to promote physically active play as part of a healthy lifestyle. It's a first-of-its-kind strategic relationship between a video game company and the American Heart Association. The two organizations come from different worlds but share the common goal of helping consumers discover how active-play video games contribute to healthy living. With nearly 70 percent* of Americans not getting the recommended levels of physical activity each week, this relationship could not have come at a better time.

Take action and find fun ways to get physically active through three specific steps that encourage incremental, achievable change for a healthy lifestyle:

Get Informed about the benefits of being physically active as part of a healthy lifestyle.
Get Empowered by making proper choices to start a healthy lifestyle. You can learn about physical activity and health and find fun ways to be physically active on a regular basis.
Get Active by initiating a physical activity program that may include active-play video games such as Wii Fit Plus and Wii Sports Resort.

Healthy Lifestyle Tips

Combine physical activity and social fun by encouraging everyone in the household – kids and adults – to enjoy active-play video games together.
No time for exercise? Break up your activity into 10-15 minute bouts.
If your favorite sports include seasonal activities such as tennis or skiing, you may spend months waiting for the right weather to arrive. Consider how active-play video games based on seasonal sports can provide a fun, physically active supplement to your activities all year round.
Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
Typical dinner parties can be nice, but isn’t it always more fun to surprise and entertain guests with something out of the ordinary? Next time you’re hosting a social gathering, turn it into an active-play video game night that gets your friends on their feet and having a blast.
Choose a parking spot farther away than usual, and take some extra steps.
If rain or snow prevents you from enjoying outdoor activities, host an active-play video game tournament in your living room. Challenge family members, neighbors or friends to step up and vie for the best scores. The friendly competition might inject some extra fun into your experience.

Statistics

The American Heart Association recommends that all adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week. Children and adolescents should do 60 minutes or more per day of aerobic physical activity. Nearly 70 percent of Americans are not reaching these goals.

Omnibus Survey

In a recent American Heart Association survey, nearly 70 percent of respondents consider active-play video games such as Wii Fit Plus and Wii Sports Resort as physical activity.

People asked me what's the best physical activity for me? Well, the best physical activity for you is the one you will do. Finding something you enjoy is absolutely critical.

– Tim Church, M.D., Ph.D., and chair of the American Heart Association’s Physical Activity Committee

News and Events

Additional Links from the American Heart Association

Learn about The Simple 7

Guidelines for Physical Activity

Joining Forces

Nintendo of America and the American Heart Association have joined forces to both inform people about the benefits of physical activity and help them find fun ways to become or stay physically active.

The relationship focuses on Nintendo's active-play video game products, including Wii Fit Plus, Wii Sports Resort and the Wii console itself. The boxes for each of these products will carry the American Heart Association brand to get people thinking about physically active play. The brand serves as a chance to remind people about the benefits of a healthy approach to living and how active-play video games can be an integral part of a healthy lifestyle. Look for the iconic American Heart Association brand the next time you visit your local retailer, and start incorporating active-play video games into your selections.

Innovation Summit

In addition to consumer outreach, Nintendo and the American Heart Association are convening a multidisciplinary summit of representatives from areas such as science, health care, research, physical activity, fitness and video gaming. The goal will be to bring together thought leaders, each with a unique perspective, to take a closer look at the synergies and potential benefits of active-play video games and physically active lifestyles. Some of the people involved in the development of the summit include Dr. Tim Church, M.D., Ph.D., and chair of the American Heart Association’s Physical Activity Committee; Hank Wasiak, a communications industry leader and self-help author; and Michael D. Gallagher, president and chief executive officer of the Entertainment Software Association, the trade association representing U.S. computer and video game publishers.

Create Your Healthy Lifestyle

By joining together to promote simple steps toward a healthy lifestyle, the American Heart Association and Nintendo are helping people overcome some of the common barriers to physical activity, including lack of time and the perception that exercise is not fun. As millions of Wii owners have already learned, physically active play can include fun video games that anyone can do from their own living room at any time.

Start! Heart Walks

Nintendo and the American Heart Association will be showcasing active-play Nintendo video games at select Start! Heart Walk events this fall. People of all ages and levels of ability are welcome to participate.

Consumers will have a chance to try out active-play video games as they decide how they’ll become more physically active through various experiential activities, including select American Heart Association Start! Heart Walks this fall.

The presence of active-play games like Wii Fit Plus and Wii Sports Resort offer people a chance for hands-on experiences and serve as a reminder that active-play video games can be a part of an overall healthy approach to living.

Don't live near an event in which Nintendo will be participating? No problem! The American Heart Association sponsors hundreds of Heart Walks all over the country. Find a Start! Heart Walk event near you.

My Life Check

Complete the American Heart Association's My Life Check test here to see how your lifestyle measures up. It's a simple yet highly informative test that helps people find a customized starting point in their stride toward an overall healthy lifestyle.

Start! Heart Walk

Sept. 11: Dallas
Sept. 17: San Francisco
Sept. 24: Chicago
Oct. 2: Seattle
Oct. 30: Atlanta

A New Take on Getting Active

Nintendo and the American Heart Association are motivating consumers to get moving through a new kind of pastime - one that is fun, easy and accessible for everyone - with video games like Wii Fit Plus and Wii Sports Resort! Active-play video games can be one important element in an overall healthy lifestyle.

Wii Fit Plus

Wii Fit Plus combines fun and fitness in one product. It can change how you exercise, how you balance, and even how you move.

> Learn More

Wii Sports Resort

Twelve exhilarating sports and activities draw you in, make you laugh and keep you moving.

> Learn More

Where To Buy

Featured Testimonials

I originally bought Wii Fit Plus for myself to encourage me to get moving. I was very excited to see that my children and neices aged 5 - 15 all enjoyed it. I like it for fitness and they just like to play it. It's our favorite game so far.

--Age 31

This game is great for the WHOLE family! We enjoy it and we laugh together more than ever as a family. Even our six year-old twins race to see who can play first. It is great motivation for me as a stay-at-home mom who doesn't have time or extra money to go to a gym. I LOVE IT and would recommend it to friends and family.

--Age 40

This game got my whole family off the couch ... including my 4 and 2-year olds, AND the dog!

--Age 42

I like that I don't have to be embarrassed to exercise in front of a large class. I can get a very good workout on my own with my own trainer!

--Age 44

Wii Fit Plus has a great collection of activities that range from moderate to intense and even have a few that the kids will enjoy. In this day and age, any game that encourages movement is a good thing!

--Age 64

Absolutely the best thing that could happen to ANY Senior Citizen!!! Enjoy things in your life that nature has taken away the ability to do. Bowl from a walker, a wheel-chair, or just get into it in your living/family room. Great technology!

--Age 74

About Our Relationship

Nintendo and the American Heart Association have come together in a first-of-its-kind campaign to help people find fun ways to stay physically active. Both organizations realize the value and potential for greater impact through working together and have pooled their efforts on a larger scale, motivating consumers to partake in physically active play in their daily lives. Active-play video games like Wii Fit Plus and Wii Sports Resort, and the Wii™ console itself can be elements of an overall healthy lifestyle.

"The American Heart Association is committed to improving the heart health of all Americans. Physical activity is one of seven key factors in achieving a healthy lifestyle," said Ralph L. Sacco, M.D., president of the American Heart Association. "Our goal is to get the word out about the many ways you can take control and start getting more active. We want everyone to make physical activity a fun part of their everyday lives that they can share with friends and family. One way we are achieving this goal is through our strategic relationship with Nintendo and their active-play video game products – Wii Fit Plus, Wii Sports Resort and the Wii console." -- Dr. Ralph Sacco, President, American Heart Association

What does this new convergence of resources entail?

A variety of activities will take place at different times throughout the relationship between Nintendo of America and the American Heart Association:

The iconic American Heart Association brand will be featured on boxes for the Wii console, Wii Fit Plus and Wii Sports Resort. It's a way to help consumers identify products that can be used as part of a physically active lifestyle.
Active-play Nintendo video games will be present at select upcoming American Heart Association Start! Heart Walk events.
Nintendo and the American Heart Association will co-host a multidisciplinary Innovation Summit of representatives from areas such as science, health care, research, physical activity, fitness and video gaming. The goal will be to bring together thought leaders, each with a unique perspective, to take a closer look at the synergies and potential benefits of active-play video games.