Gaming can raise heart rate but doesn’t significantly increase calorie burning.
Anyone who has spent hours in an intense online game knows the adrenaline rush, heart palpitations, and general fatigue that follow. Does all this exertion mean gamers are burning lots of calories? Not really, according to a systematic review by Kotas and colleagues examining energy expenditure during esports.
The studies found slight increases in calorie burn, ranging from 1.3 to 2.5 calories per minute. That’s about the same as eating one or two boiled eggs in an hour. So while your heart rate skyrockets in that gaming session, the actual impact on burning calories is minimal.
According to reporting by Esports Insider.
The Science Behind the Numbers
A study by Nicholson looked at 13 male esports players from top ranks of several games. Players spent about 0.17 more calories per minute during gameplay compared to when they were resting. Over a three-hour session, that’s only an extra 261 calories versus 230 for the rest period – hardly enough to consider gaming as rigorous exercise.
Key Takeaways:- Gaming boosts heart rate but not much more than sitting still.
- The metabolic demand isn’t significantly higher, despite feeling quite intense.
Raise of Heart Rates Without Extra Calories
If the calorie burn is so low, why does gaming feel so draining? The intensity comes from mental stress and decision-making rather than physical exertion. One study showed a player’s heart rate rising to 137 bpm during game-time compared with only 85 bpm while resting.
Highlight:Gaming can trick fitness trackers as the body's