American Heart Association Partners With Nintendo On Fitness

Nintendo has partnered with the American Heart Association to promote its Wii consoles as a way to stay physically active.

The two organizations said they will work together to help people learn how active-play video games lead to healthy living.

“Our two organizations come from different worlds, but we share a common goal,” said Clyde Yancy, M.D., president of the American Heart Association. “Showing people accessible ways to stay active has been a part of our mission for decades, but our research tells us nearly 70 percent of Americans are getting no regular physical activity.”

“As an organization we are looking for ways to change this. Nintendo has demonstrated clear leadership in active-play video games with the popularity of the Wii system, and I’m confident that together we can encourage Americans to become more physically active.”

The American Heart Association logo will appear on boxes for the Wii Fit Plus, Wii Sports Resort and the Wii console itself beginning this summer. Nintendo and the American Heart Association have also launched a website, activeplaynow.com, where visitors can read about the benefits of physically active play, take self-assessment tests and learn more about being physically active.

“Nintendo has been helping people get up off the couch and get playing since the Wii system launched in 2006,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing.

“By joining forces with the American Heart Association, we further our commitment to bringing fun and accessible active-play video games to a broader audience.”