ArticleJournal of sport and health science2022
Esports players, got muscle? Competitive video game players' physical activity, body fat, bone mineral content, and muscle mass in comparison to matched controls.
Article in Journal of sport and health science, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 31 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
31 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Association Between Esports Participation and Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Sports medicine - open · 2026Pooled it
- Exploring Patterns and Associated Factors of Physical Inactivity in Adolescents: A Cross‑Sectional Study.Health science reports · 2026Article
- Characterization of Gaming-Related Symptoms and Musculoskeletal Pain Complaints in Individuals Who Participate in Electronic Gaming.American journal of lifestyle medicine · 2026Article
- Injuries and Overuse Injuries in Esports.Sports (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Aerobic capacity, strength, and cognitive performance of e-sports athletes and their determinants.Frontiers in sports and active living · 2026Article
- A Cross-Sectional Survey on Musculoskeletal Pain Among Professional and Non-Professional Gamers in Saudi Arabia: Associations with Gaming Genre, Duration, and Ergonomic Factors [Letter].Journal of pain research · 2026Article
- The health quality of the diet and selected health indicators of Polish e-sports players.Frontiers in nutrition · 2026Article
- Health and health-related behaviors in esports players: an international survey of playtime and nationality differences.Frontiers in sports and active living · 2026Article
- Effects of Competitive Exergaming-Based Esports on Older Adults in Hong Kong: Nonrandomized Controlled Pilot Study.JMIR serious games · 2025Article
- Correlation Between Phase Angle and Body Composition, Strength and Nutritional Habits in Male Gamers.Sports (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Where Muscle Matters: How Regional Differences, Pain, and Gender Define Gamer Health.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025Article
- Level of intestinal permeability markers and selected aspects of diet and BMI of Polish e-sports players.Journal of health, population, and nutrition · 2025Article
- Short bouts and long-term exercise reduce sedentary-induced bone loss and microstructural changes by modulating bone formation and resorption in healthy young male rats.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Biochemical Changes in Adult Male Gamers During Prolonged Gaming: Pilot Study.Interactive journal of medical research · 2024Article
- Physical Activity and Self-Determination towards Exercise among Esports Athletes.Sports medicine - open · 2024Article
- Comparing health risks and musculoskeletal issues between professional and casual mobile esports players: a cross-sectional descriptive study in Jakarta.Frontiers in sports and active living · 2024Article
- Editorial: What is esports performance?Frontiers in sports and active living · 2024Article
- Gameplay and physical activity behaviors in adult video game players.Frontiers in sports and active living · 2024Article
- Challenging the Portrait of the Unhealthy Gamer-The Fitness and Health Status of Esports Players and Their Peers: Comparative Cross-Sectional Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2023Article
- Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundEsports players, like traditional athletes, practice for long hours and, thus, are vulnerable to the negative health effects of prolonged sitting. There is a lack of research on the physical activity and the health ramifications of prolonged sitting by competitive players. The purpose of this study was to investigate activity levels, body mass index (BMI), and body composition in collegiate esports players as compared to age-matched controls.
methodsTwenty-four male collegiate esports players and non-esports players between 18 and 25 years of age signed a written consent to participate. Physical activity was examined using daily activity (step count) with a wrist-worn activity tracker. A questionnaire assessing physical activity was also administered. Secondary outcomes included body-fat percentage, lean-body mass, BMI, and bone mineral content measured using dual X-ray absorptiometry.
resultsThe step count in the esports players was significantly lower than the age-matched controls (6040.2 ± 3028.6 vs. 12843.8 ± 5661.1; p = 0.004). Esports players exhibited greater body-fat percentage (p = 0.05), less lean body mass (p = 0.003), and less bone mineral content (p = 0.03), despite no difference in BMI between the esports and non-esports players.
conclusionAs compared to non-esports players, collegiate esports players were significantly less active and had a higher body-fat percentage, with lower lean body mass and bone mineral content. The BMIs showed no difference between the 2 groups. Esports athletes displayed significantly less activity and poor body composition, which are all correlated with potential health issues and risk of injury. BMI did not capture this difference and should not be considered as an accurate measure of health in competitive esports players.
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