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According to a new study from QUT (Queensland University of Technology), esports players are up to 21% heavier than the general population, hardly smoke and drink less.
The results, published in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, were based on 1400 survey respondents from 65 countries.
- First study to investigate the BMI (body mass index) status of a global sample of eSports players.
- Esports players were between 9 and 21 percent more likely to be a healthy weight than the general population.
- Esports players drank and smoked less than the general population.
- 10% of top esports players were significantly more physically active than lower-tier players, showing that physical activity could affect esports proficiency.
QUT eSports researcher Michael Trotter said the results are surprising considering global obesity levels.
“The results challenge the stereotype of the morbidly obese gamer,” he said.
Mr. Trotter said the South Park animated satire made fun of the unsuitable player, but the link between video games and obesity hasn’t been strongly established.
“When thinking about esports, concerns are often raised about sedentary behavior and poor health as a result, and the study revealed some interesting and conflicting results,” he said.
“As part of their training regimen, elite esports athletes spend more than an hour a day exercising as a strategy to improve gameplay and manage stress,” he said.
The World Health Organization guidelines for the time that should be spent on weekly physical activity are a minimum of 150 minutes.
“Only the top-tier players surveyed met the physical activity guidelines, with the top players exercising on average four days a week,” said the graduate student.
However, the study found that 4.03% of esports players were more likely to be morbidly obese than the global population.
Mr. Trotter said strategies should be developed to support players ranked in the top end of the BMI categories.
“Exercise and physical activity play a role in success in esports and should be at the heart of players and organizations that train esports players,” said Trotter.
“This means that in the future young players will have more reasons and motivations to be physically active.
“Basic esports paths, such as the growth of college and high school esports, are probably the best place for young esports players to develop good health habits for players.”
The research also found that esports players are 7.8% more likely to abstain from drinking every day, and of those gamblers who drink, only 0.5% reported drinking daily.
The survey showed that only 3.7% of esports players smoked every day, with a lower smoking frequency than the global data of 18.7%.
Future research will examine how high school and college esports programs can improve health outcomes and increase physical activity for gaming students.
The study was conducted by the Health Faculty of the QUT School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences and in collaboration with the Department of Psychology of Umeå University in Sweden.
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Materials provided by Queensland University of Technology. Note: The content can be changed by style and length.
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