A Scottish doctor from Glasgow suggests that, by making kids more active, the gaming sensation "Pokemon Go" could help ease the ongoing childhood obesity crisis.
According to the website news.com.au, Dr Margaret McCartney from Glasgow, a doctor who contributes for the medical journal The BMJ, said in an editorial looking at the benefits and risks of the "Pokemon Go" that our streets have become a reclaimed playground for interconnected fun because of the popular game. Millions of people have been involved in hunting Pokemon across the globe over the past two months.
As they play the game, many "Pokemon Go" players, including kids, are walking the streets for hours. Increased social interactions and increased physical activity are positive effects of playing the popular augmented reality mobile game, according to Dr McCartney.
The doctor from Glasgow also said that we all need real life connectivity in our modern lives and the "Pokemon Go" game can facilitate that. However, many parents have complained about the game's lack of adequate safety and children protection. The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children in the UK has published a guide for parents of children who are fans of playing the game. Dr. McCartney also encourages making the game as safe as possible.
According to the Glasgow doctor, having more exercise while playing "Pokemon Go" outdoors can keep people fit, prevent vitamin D deficiency and prevent heart attacks and type 2diabetes through more exercise. The popular mobile game, she added, offers the opportunity to play outdoors. By making players exercise, the "Pokemon Go" can certainly boost health, according to the doctor.
According to the British online publication News And Star, even if "Pokemon Go" is not marketed as a health app, gamers still do a lot of walking while playing the popular mobile app. Since the game was launched, its many beneficial effects for boosting health have been reproted. For instance, while collecting all the Pokemon characters, one player walked 140 miles (225km) and lost two stone (12.7kg).
