Highlights • Body mass index is not an accurate measure of health in esports players. • College esports players are significantly less active than non-esports players. • Esports players present with significantly lower lean body mass than non-esports players. • Esports players have a significantly higher body fat percentage than non-esports players. • Bone mineral content is significantly lower in esports players than in non-athlete players. |
Background
Esports players , like traditional athletes, practice for long hours and are therefore vulnerable to the negative health effects of prolonged sitting. There is a lack of research on the physical activity and health ramifications of long-term sitting competitive players.
The purpose of this study was to investigate activity levels, body mass index (BMI), and body composition in collegiate esports players compared to age-matched controls.
Methods
Twenty-four male collegiate esports and non-esports players between the ages of 18 and 25 signed written consent to participate. Physical activity was examined using daily activity (step counts) with a wrist-worn activity tracker. A physical activity evaluation questionnaire was also administered.
Secondary outcomes included percent body fat, lean body mass, BMI, and bone mineral content measured by dual x-ray absorptiometry.
Results
Step counts in esports players were significantly lower than in age-matched controls (p = 0.004; 6040.2 ± 3028.6 vs. 12843.8 ± 5661.1). Esports players exhibited a higher percentage of body fat (p = 0.05), less lean body mass (p = 0.003), and less bone mineral content (p = 0.03), despite no differences in the BMI between esports and non-esports players.
Gamers have:
- 26% more body fat
- 70% more visceral fat
- 15% less lean body mass
- 10% less bone mineral content
Conclusion
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. BMI did not show differences between the 2 groups.
Esports players showed significantly lower activity and poor body composition, all of which correlate with potential health problems and injury risk. BMI did not capture this difference and should not be considered an accurate measure of health in competitive esports players.
