The Use of the Wii Fit in Forensic Mental Health: Exercise for People at Risk of Obesity

Abstract

Adverse side effects of the medications used to treat the symptoms of psychoses often include sedation and decreased metabolism, leading to rapid weight gain (Wilson 2008). This weight gain can lead to problems with an individual's health, wellbeing and quality of life (World Health Organization [WHO] 2010) and ability to perform necessary daily occupations (Wilson 2010). This is especially problematic for individuals with mental illness in the criminal justice system. It can be difficult to address their rapid weight gain when they are incarcerated, because physical, legal and institutional barriers prevent them from accessing exercising opportunities that are available in the general community. Additionally, negative symptoms of mental illness, such as avolition, further make it difficult for these forensic mental health patients to be motivated to participate in physical activity (Wilson 2008). The challenge for occupational therapists is to find a better match between the person, environment and occupation (Townsend and Polatajko 2007) in this scenario, in order to assist forensic mental health patients to participate in exercise within a secure setting, to improve their health and wellbeing, and potentially to assist them to lose weight. Virtual reality technologies, and specifically the Nintendo Wii system, are being investigated for their potential use in rehabilitation to assist in meeting

Occupational therapy intervention addressing weight gain and obesity in people with severe mental illness: A scoping review

“…Seven of the articles discussed motivation as a factor that needed to be addressed to support performance and participation in health promoting occupations in this population (Bacon, Farnworth & Boyd, 2012;Brown et al, 2006Brown et al, , 2014Brown et al, , 2015Mahony et al, 2012;Merriman et al, 1995). Providing encouragement and support was one means through which therapists sought to improve motivation among participants in lifestyle interventions (Bacon et al; Brown et al).…”

“…There were fewer references to skills training related to physical activity. Bacon et al (2012) described teaching participants how to use the Wii Fit. Occupational therapists also provided skills training in problem solving and decision-making Okon et al, 2015).…”

“…Two studies reported that participants in their group programs were provided with materials to support engagement in physical activity, such as pedometers, heart rate monitors, weights, stretch bands and work out tapes, and for maintaining a healthy diet, materials such as pots and pans, measuring cups, water bottles, steamers and cooking utensils (Brown et al, 2006(Brown et al, , 2015. Bacon et al (2012) provided access to a Wii Fit for individuals in an inpatient forensic setting. Other papers reported supporting physical access by conducting sessions in facilities that were close to where participants lived, in order to increase the likelihood that they would continue with the activities after they left the inpatient unit or group program (Jones, 2008;.…”

“…Social support was facilitated through providing opportunities for discussing challenges, progress and goal attainment within group sessions (Merriman et al, 1995;Pendlebury et al, 2007). Social support was also identified as being provided by clinicians both in the form of encouragement during sessions and in phone calls and mail outs between sessions (Bacon et al, 2012;Brown et al, 2006Brown et al, , 2011Brown et al, , 2014.…”

Codename Revolution: the Nintendo Wii platform

“…However, there are some that consider the Wii specifically, either in its own right (e.g. Bacon et al, 2012) or in comparison to other types of games console (e.g. Graves et al, 2007).…”