Pokémon Go increases physical activity for otherwise sedentary players, but gains do not persist after play ends and do not exceed active non-players¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · review r3 · q2
Currency · no dated study recorded · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? Playing Pokémon Go can increase activity when used by otherwise sedentary people for exercise, but it should not replace dedicated physical activity. → Kurt Squire 2023

Evidence¶

Kurt Squire 2023¶

Kurt Squire, Garrison Wells, Maria J. Anderson-Coto, and Constance Steinkuehler. 2023. Casual Games, Cognition, and Play across the Lifespan: A Critical Synthesis. ACM Games: Research and Practice, Volume 1, Issue 2, Article 14. https://doi.org/10.1145/3594534

q2 · i? · review · r3

The review's synthesis of 36 Pokémon Go studies with a combined sample of 38,724 participants reports that gameplay benefits sedentary individuals but "did not increase activity for already active players" and exercise did not persist after play ended. No effect size is printed.

"Thus, playingPokémon Gocan increase activity when it is used by otherwise sedentary people for the purposes of exercise, but it ought not replace more dedicated physical activity."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Pokémon Go play is associated with improved social well-being, belonging, and connection, and reduced anxiety about leaving the house — related
• The three physical activity indicators (active play, family/peers time, sedentary behavior) are all intercorrelated, with weak sedentary-behavior links — related
• Girls in Playworks schools were less likely to be sedentary and more likely to engage in jumping, tag, and playground games during recess — related