Playing "Pokémon GO" really does get people to walk more, but the effects appear to be short-lived, a new study suggests. Researchers found that during the week after people downloaded "Pokémon Go," they took 955 more steps, on average, compared with people who didn't play "Pokémon Go." The study involved 1,182 Americans ages 18 to 35 who completed an online survey in August 2016, shortly after the game's release.
Pokémon GO: A Game That Let People Walk
Pokémon GO is a free-to-play, location-based augmented reality game developed by Niantic for iOS, Android, and Apple Watch devices. The game is the result of a collaboration between Niantic and The Pokémon Company and was initially released in selected countries in July 2016. In the game, players use a mobile device's GPS capability to locate, capture, battle, and train virtual creatures, called Pokémon, who appear on the screen as if they were in the same real-world location as the player.
Pokémon GO was released to mixed reviews, with critics praising the game's concept and the incentive to be more active in the real world while criticizing frequent technical issues apparent at launch. Despite such reviews, it quickly became a global phenomenon and was one of the most used and profitable mobile apps in 2016. According to News Everyday, a new study writes, "Pokémon GO has been suggested to improve public health by promoting physical activity. In our study population, however, the results indicate that the health impact of Pokémon Go might be moderate."
Pokémon GO Has Been Suggested To Improve Public Health By Promoting Physical Activity
It is true that Pokémon GO players were getting a bit of exercise while doing the game. But the risk of being so distracted while playing that you hurt yourself, or others, also proved very real. As reported by BBC, Pokemon GO requires players to take to the streets to try to catch on-screen monsters in real-world locations. Researchers found that keen players walked an average of an extra 955 steps a day in the first week of using the game.
"Interventions designed to increase walking typically increase the number of steps by 2,500 daily. Even if smaller amounts of physical activity might also be important for health outcomes, the increase in steps from Pokemon GO," said the study published in the British Medical.
"They give us a reason to go outside, walk and socialize," said Katherine Howe, co-author of the Harvard University research told The Guardian. "So I think there is a huge potential to develop these games to not only increase physical activity but also boost mental wellbeing, mood and social interaction for people of all ages."
