Video game players are NOT typically obese, but are healthier than the general public, study reveals

Esports players might be viewed as individuals who sit around, eat junk food and guzzle down sugary drinks, but a new study finds these gamers are just the opposite.

A team from Queensland University of Technology uncovered uncovered players are up to 21 percent more likely to have a healthier body weight than the average person.

The survey also reveals that esport gamers smoke and drink less than the general public and are significantly more active as a result of certain video games.

Although a majority are in tip top shape, the study did find that 4.03 percent of esports players are more likely to be morbidly obese than the general public.

A team from Queensland University of Technology uncovered uncovered players are up to 21 percent more likely to have a healthier body weight than the average person. The team surveyed 1,400 gamers from 65 countries

Video courtesy of Queensland University of Technology 

Queensland University of Technology (QUT) conducted the study by surveying 1,400 gamers from 65 countries in, what they say is, the first study to investigate the BMI (Body Mass Index) status of a global sample of esports players.

QUT esports researcher Michael Trotter said: ‘The findings challenge the stereotype of the morbidly obese gamer.’

‘When you think of esports, there are often concerns raised regarding sedentary behavior and poor health as a result, and the study revealed some interesting and mixed results.’

Trotter and his team collected the surveys and found players were between nine and 21 percent more likely to have a healthier body weight than the general public.

Experts found elite esports athletes spend more than an hour per day engaging in physical exercise as a strategy to enhance gameplay and manage stress

Many work with personal trainers to make sure they stay in shape for their gaming competitions 

‘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,’ he said.

‘Only top-level players surveyed met physical activity guidelines, with the best players exercising on average four days a week.’

Along with having a healthier body weight, the study found a majority of gamers do not smoke and drink less than the general public as well.

Players are 7.8 percent more likely to abstain from drinking daily, and of those players who do drink, only 0.5 percent reported having a drink daily.

Along with having a healthier body weight, the study found a majority of gamers do not smoke and drink less than the general public as well. Players are 7.8 percent more likely to abstain from drinking daily, and of those players who do drink, only 0.5 percent reported having a drink daily

And only 3.7 percent of the gamers said they smoked daily, which is compared to the global 18.7 percent.

‘Exercise and physical activity play a role in success in esports and should be a focus for players and organisations training esports players,’ Trotter said.

‘This will mean that in the future, young gamers will have more reason and motivation to be physically active.

‘Grassroots esports pathways, such as growing university and high school esports, are likely to be the best place for young esports players to develop good health habits for gamers.’