Buy a Wii, be a loser.

The greatest thing about the Wii isn't that its fun. It isn't that it's cheap (compared to its competitors anyways). It's the simple fact that it gets people up and off the couch doing something. And the timing couldn't be better. Granted gameplay can be as simple as hitting a virtual ball, or beating the virtual lights out of your friend, but it can really be a lot of work! Approximately 30% of American children are overweight [obesity.org] and with the technology age upon us, perhaps virtual gaming is the solution to this problem, which seems to be reaching epidemic proportions.

If you get into them, the games can actually get so intense that some people have complained of soreness obtained during these "Wii Workouts" [WSJ]. Nintendo has even introduced reminders that appear every 15 minutes in some games to warn users to take frequent breaks, to ensure fatigue doesn't set in.

Whether or not you're a fan of video games, if you're someone who wants to get a family member into shape and off the couch, this holiday season you may want to consider investing in a Wii. It might be an easier way of introducing someone special into an exercise 'routine'.