According to Merrill Lynch, 30 percent of American homes will have a Wii by 2011. The Wii has been marketed as an alternative to “couch potato” video games—offering sports, cardiovascular, yoga and weight training programs for all ages. But can you really lose weight playing your Wii? Possibly—according to recent research presented at the American Heart Association’s 2009 Scientific Sessions.

Funded by Nintendo, the 2009 Wii fitness study found that one-third of the console’s virtual physical activities are considered “moderate” in intensity. “The range of energy expenditure in these active games is sufficient to prevent or to improve obesity and lifestyle-related disease, from heart disease and diabetes to metabolic diseases,” said lead study author, Motohiko Miyachi, Ph.D.

Health studies have determined that adults get the most benefit from moderate-intensity exercise when they do at least 2.5 hours of aerobics each week. So…if you aren’t getting the recommended daily allowance of running, tennis, swimming, kickboxing and biking—host a family “Wii game night” or invest in My Fitness Coach, Wii Sports or Wii Fitness.

If core strength, flexibility and stability are your main concerns, there are also several yoga and balance applications for the Wii—including Wii Fit Plus and Yoga by Dreamcatcher Interactive.