ArticleHealthcare (Basel, Switzerland)2025
Pokémon GO, Went, Gone…-Physical Activity Level, Health Behaviours, and Mental Well-Being of Game Users: A Cross-Sectional Study.
Article in Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Motivational Factors, Physical Activity Impacts, and Sociopsychological Effects of Pokémon GO in Players Over the Years: Scoping Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Article
- A Critical Appraisal of the Links Between Video Gaming, Lifestyle Factors, Diet and Eating Behaviour: A Narrative Review.Nutrients · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
Abstract
BACKGROUND/
objectivesPokémon GO has had a substantial global impact, emerging as one of the most prominent smartphone game releases of the 21st century. Beyond its entertainment value, this game has the potential to encourage physical activity alongside recreational engagement. Consequently, it may facilitate the integration of augmented reality into daily routines within the context of advancing mobile device technology. This study aimed to assess the impact of Pokémon GO on users' physical activity levels, as well as to identify other implicit health outcomes and potential risks.
methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-long form) and a custom-designed survey (including demographic characteristics) administered to a cohort of 243 Pokémon GO players (112 females and 131 males, mean age 27 ± 7 years).
resultsAccording to IPAQ-long form data, 68% of Pokémon GO users demonstrated high physical activity levels, 29% moderate, and 2.5% insufficient activity. More than 80% of participants reported increased walking distances, and 39% indicated that playing the game had improved their overall mood, while 13% reported enhanced social interactions. However, some findings are concerning, with 27% of respondents admitting to sacrificing sleep, 20% considering themselves addicted, and more than half exceeding the World Health Organization (WHO) screen time guidelines based solely on the time spent playing Pokémon GO.
conclusionsPokémon GO has a positive impact on users' physical activity levels, particularly in terms of low-intensity physical activities such as walking. This observational study suggests that the application may be associated with a healthy lifestyle and enhanced interpersonal contact. Prudent and safe usage is advised, as the game has the potential to be addictive and may pose risks when misused.
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What Socratic holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.