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EA Sports Approved in Scientific Studies

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EA Sports is actually a brand name used by Electronic Arts to distribute sports games which mimic real-life sports. The term has come to have a wider use as the appeal of electronic games for keeping fit has grown in popularity and appeal.

© Electronic Arts Inc.

With the advent of the Wii, keeping fit has never been easier in the home. Electronic games can be bought and played on the home TV or computer to simulate everything from golf and ten-pin bowling to tennis, boxing, football, soccer and even basketball. Suitable for all ages, and with a definite appeal to the younger generation who have grown up on electronic games and two-dimensional images, it is being hailed as a great way to increase fitness levels in the privacy of your own home. No expensive equipment or a dedicated space for the home gym are necessary, just plug and play. Sports packages are available for Playstations, Nintendo, PSP and X-Box as well as the acclaimed Wii, making active fitness fun.

A study by Dr John Porcari from the University of Wisconsin has shown that using the EA Sports Active and EA Sports Active More workouts provided an effective workout as outlined by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). The tested sports programs were shown to improve aerobic capacity and increase overall body fitness when used as part of a healthy, active lifestyle. The ACSM is the leading authority on exercise science and sports and sets key guidelines on what constitutes a healthy, active lifestyle. It recommends everyone should perform 30 minutes of moderately intense exercise five times a week, or 20 minutes of vigorous exercise three times per week, as measured by specific heart rate and aerobic capacities.

The study tested sixteen physically active participants between the ages of 25 and 45. The tests determined the relative exercise intensity and the calorific requirements of two specific EA Active workouts marketed as Afterburner and Legs and Lungs. Both the workouts tested were sufficiently intense to meet the ACSM guidelines for effective physical fitness with individuals reaching an intensity of 64-94% of their maximum heart rate or 40-85% of maximal oxygen consumption, known as VO2max. The program also enabled users to burn 200-300 calories per session, which if performed five days per week would help maintain physical health and aid in weight control.

Although the study was a huge endorsement for EA and other similar software developments, the study was intended to promote and integrate scientific research and practical applications of sports medicine and exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle in the 21st century.