Maytinee Kramer/Staff writer
“Pokémon Go,” a location-based augmented reality mobile game, has been a major success since its July 6 release. Aside from the obvious addictive fun of the game, Pokémon Go offers tangible physical and mental health benefits.
Unlike previous Pokémon games, “Pokémon Go” is not for Nintendo’s handheld consoles; it is a free app for Android and iOS devices that compels players to “catch em’ all.”
The game uses your phone’s GPS and clock to decide which Pokémon pop up. In other words, if you’re near a lake, more water type Pokémon appear. If you’re by a park, more bug and grass types appear. The catch of the game is that Pokémon won’t come to you; players have to go out into the real world to find and catch Pokémon, just like Pokémon trainers.
Since it’s release, players have been lumbering up hills, wandering the city streets at night and congregating in various parks. The unintended side effect of the game is that users are becoming more physically active, walking miles and miles each day to play the game is boosting their overall physical health.
The game is great motivation to get users to go out and walk around. Walking is among the best forms of exercise one can get. Just breathing fresh, clean, outside air may improve one’s health and mood.
Research published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology suggests that simply being outdoors was “associated with greater vitality,” and a Yale study found that students’ test scores increased when they spent more time outside. The differences were attributed to better air quality.
When outside, “Pokémon Go” players are also exposed to the sun, which is the biggest natural source of Vitamin D.
FIU student Lisett Guerrero loves Pikachu and told Student Media that “Pokémon Go” has definitely given her and some friends a reason to go out.
“Even if it’s super hot outside, we don’t mind walking around in order to catch a new Pokémon,” said the senior studying criminal justice.
She says that the game has helped her become more outgoing and even given her reason to talk with more people.
“The game also makes me exercise more.” Guerrero said.
Even experts in sports medicine and obesity prevention are pleased to see the outcomes of the game.
“Anything that gets people up off their couch … and out in the real world moving around, I think, is a wonderful thing,” Dr. Michael Jonesco, a sports medicine physician at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center said to Live Science.
Aside from the great physical health aspects, “Pokémon Go” offers mental health benefits as well. The exercise users get from playing the game can help decrease feelings of depression.
Dr. John Grohol, an expert in technology’s impact on human behavior and mental health as well as the founder of mental health network Psych Central, told to Engadget:
“It actually works as an anti-depressant and it has a really, pretty strong effect. It’s probably one of the most beneficial things a person with depression can do, especially if they’re not accessing other types of treatments, such as psychotherapy or medication.”
Dr. Grohol further stated that, “in terms of the phenomena of people expressing the benefits of playing the game to their real-world mental health status, I think that’s very unique and it’s the first time I’ve ever seen anything like that.”
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, roughly 43.8 million adults in the United States experience mental illnesses every year. That’s one in five adults. The video game community is a magnet for people living with untreated anxiety, depression and other mental illnesses, says suicide prevention organization Take This.
Graham Thomas, an assistant professor of psychiatry and human behavior at the Miriam Hospital’s Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center in Providence, Rhode Island, shared his thoughts about the game to Live Science, saying:
“For a long time, the advances in technology have promoted reduced physical activity and increased time in sedentary behavior, which comes with well-known health risk. It’s nice to see technology changing and being used in a way that promotes physical activity.”
Twitter is flooded with stories about the game’s impact on players’ anxiety and depression, and thousands of people are praising the game for getting them out of the house and making it easier to interact with friends and strangers alike. According to Grohol, these simple acts are crucial milestones for anyone struggling with depression.
“Pokémon Go” may be a wonderful motivator for players to leave their houses, get some light exercise and meet new people, but with all of its achievements, the game does have its limits.
While the game may be good for self-care, it’s not a substitute for professional treatment. Rather, it’s a stepping stone toward healthier habits and positive self-care.
DISCLAIMER
The opinions presented within this page do not represent the views of FIU Student Media Editorial Board. These views are separate from editorials and reflect individual perspectives of contributing writers and/or members of the University community.
Image by Shannon, retrieved from Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/phantomm_/4545861983/in/photolist-7VGJoK-nYiprg-6cWFyN-8KBrf7-bkKq3S-3EU16N-cyD4bd-oqB8pN-7aJ3Q-J1BZ3r-fQEdTW-pX16NS-6CzWKA-8vYiqG-J1BZHe-6jsCAf-J1BZSc-9JiV1f-JKGLFa-JJgUGs-HRT3Q7-7z3mTX-cyD3xs-9tX7Lm-9SN5nm-qVkB2r-dMLq7E-7B4aBZ-kDpamk-HohHGk-bZ2NJS-4tpdzP-ahb31A-uadVH-8XW23M-9gP3Ch-Q7n8o-b3iEqV-oMuPVn-B268D-9hwTaW-8otGuD-8wEvLY-dNhXbk-bZ2Nv3-pTYjP6-oGuSUU-HRT3Z5-s98UGE-ayb2wd
About Post Author
