Accepted for/Published in: Journal of Medical Internet Research
Date Submitted: Dec 14, 2022
Date Accepted: Apr 17, 2023
Challenging the portrait of the unhealthy gamer- The fitness and health status of esports players and their peers: A comparative cross-sectional study
ABSTRACT
Background:
Esports players are often referred to as sedentary athletes, as gaming requires prolonged sedentary screen exposure. As sedentary behavior and physical inactivity are major causes of non-communicable diseases and premature death, esports players may be at an increased risk for health implications.
Objective:
The present study aimed to assess the health and fitness status of a group of competitive esports players compared to an age and sex-matched comparison group.
Methods:
Fifty-one competitive esports players (mean 23, SD 3 years, 2 female) and 51 non-esports players (mean 24, SD 3 years, 2 female) were enrolled in this cross-sectional laboratory study. Both groups completed a questionnaire assessing demographic data and self-reported physical activity (PA) levels. Furthermore, physical parameters including body mass index (BMI), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), body fat percentage (BF%), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), pulse wave velocity (PWV), maximal grip strength (MGS), and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) were assessed.
Results:
There were no significant differences in BMI (t(100)=1.54; P=.13; d=.30), WHtR (t(100)=1.44; P=.16; d=.28), BF% (t(100)=-0.48; P=.63; d=-.09), SBP (t(100)=-0.06; P=.93; d=-.01), DBP (t(100)=0.37; P=.71; d=.07), PWV (t(93)=-2.08; P=.15; d=-.43), MGS (t(100)=-.08; P=.94; d=-.02), VO2max (t(100)=-0.11; P=.92; d=-.02), and PA levels (t(86)=2.17; P=.08; d=.46) between the groups.
Conclusions:
The results across all variables could not confirm the hypotheses that esports players are unhealthy or unfit compared to their age- and sex-matched
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