One of the key elements of Pokémon GO is walking - not only do you have to trek around to catch monsters and pillage PokéStops, but you also have to rack up steps to hatch eggs - and it has already been pointed out that the app encourages people to partake in additional physical exercise on a daily basis.
However, a new study conducted by Microsoft Research and Stanford University researchers reveals just how much of an impact the game has had on the health of US citizens. The paper - published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research last month under the title Influence of Pokemon Go on Physical Activity - is based on a three-month study of around 32,000 wearers of Microsoft fitness trackers and concluded that interest in Pokémon GO can be linked with an increase in physical activity, and could even contribute to people living longer lives:
Highly engaged users were almost 3 times as likely to meet official activity guidelines in the 30 days after starting to play Pokémon Go compared with that before. If this user engagement could be sustained, Pokémon Go would have the potential to measurably affect US life expectancy.
We studied the effect of Pokémon Go on physical activity through a combination of large-scale wearable sensor data with search engine logs and showed that the game leads to significant increases in physical activity over a period of 30 days, particularly with the engaged users increasing their average activity by 1473 steps a day or 26 percent.
Based on our findings, we estimate that the game has already added an estimated 144 billion steps to US physical activity. If engagement with Pokémon Go could be sustained over the lifetime of its many users, we estimate that the game would add an estimated 2.825 million years of additional lifetime to its US users.
The creators of the paper have pointed out that there are some things to take into account while digesting these findings; the study only looked at anonymized data collected by Microsoft and none of the people involved were actually interviewed. That means the researchers had to guess which people were actually playing the app, based on their web and search history. Also, this data is taken from a very narrow group of people - those who feel compelled to own a fitness tracker than costs in excess of $200, and who also agreed to allow Microsoft access to their activity and search data.
Even so, the evidence is pretty clear - Pokémon GO can help you become a healthier person, purely due to the fact that it encourages you to walk around. Who knew, right?
[source gamasutra.com]
Comments (36)
Too bad it didn't last long.
Before I read the article, life expectancy is potentially lowered because the increased risk of getting hit by a vehicle, or getting shot for trespassing. Amirite?
@Jimmy_G_Buckets I was expecting that as well, but thankfully no.
I couldn't agree more, when I first started Pokémon Go I'd just been diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apneoa which meant I stopped breathing while sleeping & caused me to fall asleep at work (and subsequently lose my job).
Now with regular walks to catch pokémon & fill up on Pokéballs (and a new diet) I've lost 4 stone since the game launched. I'm averaging at least 7000 steps on a low day & my Apnoea has improved significantly.
As for people mocking the game being dead... it's STILL one of the top grossing apps (currently top on Play Store).
An experiment like this would be laughable in the scientific community. It's based on assumptions/generalizations and they don't even know who they're testing.
BUT, I think it doesn't take a scientist to realize that yeah, walking a lot will make you healthier.
@JubilifeRival The research method wasn't great, but at least they have basic common sense on their side.
@DiscoGentleman Thanks, even managed to win a "Mr Sleek" tie at a club I'm attending. Feels silly as I still look more like Mr Bump. But I'm getting there.
"we estimate that the game would add an estimated 2.825 million years of additional lifetime to its US users."
Each.
@DanteSolablood That's awesome, good for you!
@DanteSolablood that's really great. I hope you take your employer to tribunal and get your job back.
@UK-Nintendo Believe me, I would if I thiought I could. I did flat out tell them how ridiculous it was giving me 2 weeks holiday to get over a LONG TERM health issue & then telling me I'm gone if it happens one more time was just plain stupid... but hey ho. Gross misconduct. :/
Edit: Anyway, enough about me! I'm just a guy trying to get less fat.
But is that not pretty obvious? The more you move, the healthier you get, it's not a rocket science or revolutionary discovery. I think it's not necessary to prove it by doing a report/research. But of course thumbs up for Pokemon Go managing to get people walk daily en masses.
@cheonsacz I think you mean "Team Rocket" science.
Boom.
@DanteSolablood cool. Hope you get another job. 👍🏻
Still play every day. Not got a bad word to say.
@DanteSolablood yeah, Pokemon Go isn't dead, it's still above the level of daily users Niantic expected on launch, it's just no longer the super mega hype train it was early on. That's like saying every sports team is dead because they have had at least slightly better seasons in the past.
does it count double if i'm driving?
@dew12333 It literally doesn't count at all if you're driving. The game doesn't count steps when you're driving & you can't use pokéstops or catch pokémon if you're going over 10mph.
You'd be surprised how many people got really angry about not being able to play with their phones while driving.
@DanteSolablood
I didn't anger me I just had to drive slower. The queues I make are mad!!
@JubilifeRival But isn't a hypothesis after all to make an "educated guess" based on the information at hand?
I can attest that the game has encourage us to walk more somcd we got it. We have two gyms and two pokestops within a block radious in our residential area and we walk to them almost every day. Also I have 6 pokestops right outside work so I always go for walks during my lunch to keep my item bag full and get the daily streaks. 😊
@DanteSolablood
All the best. They don't deserve to have any employees if that's their carry on. Same thing happened to me when I got ill a few years ago. Knowing I wouldn't have to go back actually helped while I was ill. 😃
Anything to get people up and moving is great. I love progress and all but it sucks that so many jobs are sedentary now. (I work a standing job and a sedentary job and they both suck but there needs to be some sort of balance. Laziness isn't the sole (or main) reason for obesity.
@DanteSolablood Bigger and better things buddy, perhaps this is a good thing in disguise. Good luck with your health goals! Even 30 min a day makes a difference!
@Joeynator3000 it was the number one grossing app in the us during Christmas. You know the time of year when people spend the most money?
Be weary of all news articles that claim "new research suggests". Question who funded the research, what were their goals, and could the numbers be messaged for a benefit.
@faint People still play this game? -.-
Nice of the creators to point out those factors in the findings. Nowadays Certain groups and individuals would leave details out to boost their findings/views.
Well from my personal experience it got me a lot more active in going outside, walking, and exploring than I ever did prior to its release, the stories I can tell. I'm still walking a longer route to go to work in this 29 degree weather (thank you Go Plus).
@DanteSolablood I didn't but nice pun. I love Team Rocket haha
I never played Pokémon Go but it's good that it helps people and their health. But, maybe without the phone to your face at all times, you could enjoy your surroundings a bit more... that will help too, regarding your health. I find it a tad ironic that's all.
@Joeynator3000 A huge amount of people still play the game, enough to keep the game consistently the top grossing game in the Google Play Store in both the US & UK.
Pokémon Go was a cultural phenomenon when it launched and it had multiple times the number of players than any other game. It could have lost 90% of it's players and still be huge.... however people misunderstand the news 70% of paying players left the game, that was only a small number of the total players to begin with.
@MadameSpuki Sorry, but it kind of shows that you've never played the game. You don't need the phone "to your face" at all times. You can stick the phone in your pocket & it'll vibrate when a Pokémon is nearby or just hold it to your side (there is a standby mode by turning it upside down too). I've explored far more of my local town than I ever would have thanks to Go.
@DanteSolablood Ah okay I didn't know that much. My phone doesn't vibrate so I didn't take that into consideration. I apologise for my ignorance. :x
@MadameSpuki Naw, that's fine. I'm not one of those people who wants to "teach ya' a lesson" or anything. Just like to point out things people might not know.
You can actually play the game without ever taking your phone out of your pocket as well using the Pokémon Go band or the Apple Watch... wouldn't advise spending that much money though.
@DanteSolablood Ahh okay that's nice to know, as I was worried that I was about to cause an arguement due to my lack of insight. :3 I'm hoping to play it when it's lighter out and once I get a new phone. Yeah I better save my money instead!
@Dark-Link73 It's not a hypothesis, it's a full blown experiment. But yeah it definitely encourages exercise.
Most of the game's user base are teenagers and young adults, and when they reach the end of their lifespans several decades from now, medical science would most likely to of advanced to the point where the risks of not exercising would be obsolete, therefore I don't think it would trully extend a great amount of lifespans.
"If engagement with Pokémon Go could be sustained over the lifetime of its many users..."
A lifetime interest in Pokemon Go would hardly provide, much less justify a longer lifespan.
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