Physical Activity and Health Promotion in Esports and Gaming–Discussing Unique Opportunities for an Unprecedented Cultural Phenomenon

Abstract

Due to long periods of sedentary behavior, and unhealthy diets gamers and esports players are at risk for numerous chronic diseases and all-cause mortality. Health research has started addressing the public health implications of the esports phenomenon, drawing a bleak picture of this megatrend. However, instead of just highlighting adverse public health implications of this trend, it is recommended to become involved in this phenomenon and positively influence it. Esports has an enormous potential for physical activity and health-promoting efforts, provides a context for broadly disseminating interventions, and offers new ways of gaining access to an often-neglected population. This paper presents: the potential of the esports phenomenon to promote physical activity, health, and well-being in gamers and esports players; the strategic and preventive solutions to ameliorate esports possible adverse health impacts; and the utilization of esports technology (streams, media platforms, exergames, etc.) as an innovative health promotion tool, especially reaching gamers and esports players with attractive and interactive interventions. This is to encourage systematic scientific research so that evidence-based guidelines and intervention strategies involving regular physical activity, healthy diet, and sleep hygiene for esports will be developed. The goal is to promote public health approaches that move toward a better integration of esports and gaming.

Improving the Health of Emerging Adult Gamers—A Scoping Review of Influences

“…Studies included a range of qualitative and quantitative methodologies including observations, interviews, surveys, and experiments. Literature reviews were also included as well as some perspective articles ( n = 5; 6.6%) [ 27 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 ] due to their relevance to the research objective. For empirical studies ( n = 61; 81.3%), participants were mostly recruited from the United States ( n = 20; 32.7%), followed by the United Kingdom ( n = 4; 6.6%), Spain ( n = 3; 4.9%), Australia ( n = 3; 4.9%), and Taiwan ( n = 3; 4.9%).…”

“…Content creators, or ‘streamers’, are the microcelebrities of the online game world and create communities where they engage with EAs but also allow EAs to create new peer networks. These content creators are integral parts of a media ecosystem that already succeeds in engaging hard-to-reach audiences, such as EAs, with entertaining content [ 38 ]. Research shows that streamers could positively impact the mental health of their viewers through their own mental health disclosures [ 106 ]; these channels are also being used for the promotion of products.…”

A milestone in the era of esports: The Olympics through the lens of virtual reality

“…Exergames (EG) are an excellent example of a “healthier gaming” as they combine PA, and the use of modern technology in the gameplay. Depending on the game design, EG gameplay consists of PA and cognitive abilities supported by an immersive VR system in which players perform body movements to advance (Ketelhut et al, 2021 ). A similar approach has also been applied in VR esports—a mix of PA and esports enhanced by immersive VR technology (Martin-Niedecken and Schättin, 2020 ).…”

Are Esports Players Inactive? A Systematic Review

“…However, researchers suggest that esports may lead individuals to adopt a healthier lifestyle themselves or act as a lever for authorities to promote this healthy lifestyle (Chan et al, 2022;Ketelhut et al, 2021;Micallef et al, 2022;Polman et al, 2018;Schary et al, 2022). For example, some hypothesize that participation in certain esports (e.g., sports simulations) could motivate players to engage in real PA (Adachy & Willoughby, 2015;Jenny & Schary, 2014).…”