Pokémon craze backed by GP
Wednesday August 10th, 2016
Leading Glasgow GP Dr Margaret McCartney has offered backing for the health benefits of the Pokemon Go craze.
Writing
in today's (10 August) BMJ she explains that
in the game Pokémon Go "You use a smartphone in a virtual
scavenger hunt for cartoon characters, but in real locations". "It
appeals to youngsters and 'kidults'," she adds.
Her three children's feelings towards the game are as varied as that of the media, she writes.
"We've had claims that it can help depression (clue: the reference doesn't lead to a randomised controlled trial but to Twitter anecdotes); that it could solve the US obesity problem (one UK player who caught all of the characters walked 225 km and lost 2 stone); and that it can even 'ease the type 2 diabetes burden' (from a press release with no original data but with links to previous research on walking and standing)."
On the other hand, "In the 'bad for you' camp are no end of sorry tales."
For example, Pokémon hunters have been stranded in the sea and in caves, and criminals are able to target congregation points featured in the game, causing armed robberies in London and real shoot-outs in the US. Safeguarding concerns have been raised over children playing the game.
"Like most things, playing it has a mix of benefit and risk," believes Dr McCartney. "We never hear about the things that didn't happen: heart attacks prevented through more exercise, or vitamin D deficiency that geeks have avoided, blinking in the sunlight while catching a Pikachu monster."
In summary, she writes: "Increased physical activity is a tantalising side effect. Game on."
McCartney, M. Game on for Pokémon Go. BMJ 10 August 2016 [abstract]
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