But six weeks later, that additional activity returned to pre-Pokémon levels, leading to provocative media headlines like 'Exercise impact short-lived' and ' Sorry, Pokemon Go addicts, playing the video game doesn't count as a real workout'. Pokémon GO's potential impact is illustrated by data taken from wearable fitness bands: researchers estimate that at its peak in summer 2016, the game added 144 billion steps to US activity - equivalent to walking around the equator 2724 times - and dedicated players raised their daily exercise by 26%.Īn early survey of new players found that people walked almost 1000 extra steps during the first week since the game's release. Physical activity is only significantly higher in young people who play three times a day according to research that monitored movement via a smartphone app. Both studies revealed that the effect is stronger in people who are overweight or obese.
From reports provided by players, one study found that the game increased the proportion who walked over 10,000 steps a day (about 4 kilometres) from 15% to 28%, another showed that playing raised moderate to vigorous physical activity by about 50 minutes per week and reduced sedentary behavior (such as watching TV and online gaming) by 30 minutes a day. Several scientific studies have shown that Pokémon GO increases physical activity.
Pokémon GO Plus CC BY 2.0: Tatsuo Yamashita /
You can also buy a 'Pokémon GO Plus', a badge-sized device that connects to your phone via Bluetooth so you can catch creatures or spin stops at the push of a button. Players put eggs into 'incubators' so they hatch after travelling a certain distance (up to 10km), for instance, and can assign a 'buddy' who walks with your in-game avatar to collect candy en route (used to power-up and 'evolve' Pokémon). Pokémon GO offers numerous incentives that encourage exercise. Although some people are able to gamify physical activity with a fitness tracker or smartwatch to compete against themselves, for others shaving a few seconds off a personal best isn't rewarding enough, which is where an actual game could work better.
' Gamification' - turning something into a game to make it fun - can help motivation by offering achievements and other rewards. I find running monotonous, for example, so making it less boring encourages me to do it more often. Motivating yourself to exercise is challenging if you don't enjoy it. So for a Pokémon GO player, walking to your nearest Poké stop to maintain a daily streak bonus and catch a few creatures might provide all the sunshine you need to stay healthy. Getting enough light at certain times of year could also help fight the depression associated with seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Low vitamin D levels are usually a consequence (not cause) of disease, and the best source is safe exposure to sunlight.