Pokemon Go produces short-lived fitness benefits for players: Harvard study

NEW YORK, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- The impact of exercise on Pokemon Go players won't keep them fit over time, according to a study from Harvard University published in the British Medical Journal this week.

"Pokemon Go has been suggested to improve public health by promoting physical activity. In our study population, however, the results indicate that the health impact of Pokemon Go might be moderate," wrote the authors of the study.

The survey recruited 560 keen players from the U.S. aged 18 to 35 who had achieved a high score in the game. The control group consisted of over 600 people who had not downloaded the app. The players recorded the number of steps they took while "catching" imaginary creatures in the reality game.

Researchers found that players walked an average of about 1,000 extra steps a day in the first week of playing. But the additional steps dropped and gradually went back to baseline by the sixth week.

The study concluded that Pokemon Go doesn't provide any long lasting fitness benefit for players.