An Initial Evaluation of the Impact of Pokémon GO on Physical Activity

Abstract

BackgroundPokémon GO is a location‐based augmented reality game. Using GPS and the camera on a smartphone, the game requires players to travel in real world to capture animated creatures, called Pokémon. We examined the impact of Pokémon GO on physical activity (PA).Methods and ResultsA pre‐post observational study of 167 Pokémon GO players who were self‐enrolled through recruitment flyers or online social media was performed. Participants were instructed to provide screenshots of their step counts recorded by the iPhone Health app between June 15 and July 31, 2016, which was 3 weeks before and 3 weeks after the Pokémon GO release date. Of 167 participants, the median age was 25 years (interquartile range, 21–29 years). The daily average steps of participants at baseline was 5678 (SD, 2833; median, 5718 [interquartile range, 3675–7279]). After initiation of Pokémon GO, daily activity rose to 7654 steps (SD, 3616; median, 7232 [interquartile range, 5041–9744], pre‐post change: 1976; 95% CI, 1494–2458, or a 34.8% relative increase [P<0.001]). On average, 10 000 “XP” points (a measure of game progression) was associated with 2134 additional steps per day (95% CI, 1673–2595), suggesting a potential dose‐response relationship. The number of participants achieving a goal of 10 000+ steps per day increased from 15.3% before to 27.5% after (odds ratio, 2.06; 95% CI, 1.70–2.50). Increased PA was also observed in subgroups, with the largest increases seen in participants who spent more time playing Pokémon GO, those who were overweight/obese, or those with a lower baseline PA level.ConclusionsPokémon GO participation was associated with a significant increase in PA among young adults. Incorporating PA into gameplay may provide an alternative way to promote PA in persons who are attracted to the game.Clinical Trial Registration URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT02888314.

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“…According to the qualitative ndings, this was more pronounced for o cers and staff who were less active at the beginning of the study, and lacking in intrinsic motivation. Similar ndings have been reported in previous mHealth studies, where less active subgroups have shown the largest increases in PA (46,47). This nding is encouraging in that less active individuals are likely to realise the greatest health gains from increasing their PA levels (48).…”

Gotta Catch ‘Em All: Impact of Pokémon Go on Physical Activity, Sitting Time, and Perceptions of Physical Activity and Health at Baseline and Three-Month Follow-Up

“…One study estimated that Pokémon Go users' have accrued 144 billion steps in the US 3 . Likewise, Xian et al 4 reported an increase in physical activity from pre-to post-launch and that the number of users' reaching the ≥10,000 daily steps recommendation significantly increased from 15.3% to 27.5%. They also reported the greatest increase in physical activity for those using the application most often, people who are overweight or with obesity and those with the lowest pre-launch physical activity levels.…”

The Praise and Price of Pokémon GO: A Qualitative Study of Children’s and Parents’ Experiences

“…Supplementing the real world with computer imagery allows players to become immersed in the game, requiring them to be physically active to capture and hatch new Pokémon [ 7 ]. Some studies suggest that Pokémon GO increases physical activity and discourages sedentary behavior among adults [ 8 - 11 ]. However, another study showed that although the number of steps increased at the beginning, it gradually decreased and returned to previous levels 9 weeks after downloading the game [ 12 ].…”