Study shows esports players are healthier than general public

Fariha Bhatti Published 01/01/2021

Countless surveys and reports have showed a correlation between obesity and video games due to physical inactivity. However, a new piece of research by the Queensland University of Technology claims that esports athletes are actually healthier than the general population.

The survey is surprising for the non-gaming public and esports fans alike, as reports that illustrate gamers as unhealthy are available in abundance. Playing video games is generally not considered a good practice due to the stereotypes attached to it. A new survey by the Queensland University of Technology shows that games may not be as harmful, as esports athletes are 21% healthier than an average human being.

The survey was conducted on 1,400 participants from 65 different countries. The results showed that these electronic atheletes were between 9% and 21% healthier in terms of weight. The top-tier esports players smoked less and refrained from excessive alcohol, according to the report.

It’s essential to notice that the report was based explicitly on esports athletes. The research stressed the importance of a stringent routine, clean eating, and physical activity, which is an integral part of a professional player’s life. The paper claimed that a healthy lifestyle leads to better performance in-game, which is why the percentage of physical fitness was higher in top-tier players. Low-tier athletes were comparatively less fit, showing that physical activity is directly related to esports expertise.

The findings rule out the idea of a lazy gamer who spends most of the day sitting in one place in front of a computer. The study focused more on professional athletes who must follow a healthy lifestyle in order to perform better.

“As part of their training regime, elite esports athletes spend more than an hour per day engaging in physical exercise as a strategy to enhance gameplay and manage stress,” QUT esports researcher Michael Trotter said.

Does exercise improve in-game performance?

Team Liquid’s manager Michael Artress has said that high carbohydrates are likely to impact the players’ reaction time as they feel more sleepy and tired. Many professional players have confirmed the impact of a suitable diet and physical activity on in-game performance.

“Lately I’ve been going to the gym, and I feel like that’s a good getaway from CS because it helps you stay focused better, helps you perform better. I think going to the gym is really important, so I’m glad I made that a hobby of mine.” Counter-Strike: Global Offensive professional player Tarik “tarik”Celik said.

The issues regarding inactivity and poor diet among some video game players continue to exist as many underestimate the impact of exercise on in-game performance and overall mental efficiency. However, this research proves that video games contribute less to poor health choices, as most decorated players are healthier than the general public.

Fariha Bhatti

About Fariha Bhatti

Fariha Bhatti is a long-time gaming writer who loves competitive FPS games and slots with particularly fun themes. She got her start playing classic games developed by SNK, from legendary fighting game series The King of Fighters to challenging platform franchise Metal Slug. She now spends most of her time playing Valorant and Counter-Strike 2 while working her way through new slot releases to find her next favorite. Fariha has been published at PCGamesN, TalkEsport and ONE Esports.

View full profile