http://www.attn.com/stories/9779/pokemon-go-affecting-players-mental-health
Firstly, I will admit I am not a fan of this game at all (putting that out there right off the bat), in part because I was never into Pokémon as a kid (or many television shows for that matter), I was always more of a play outside, get down and dirty in the dirt, play outdoors kind of kid. I mean geez, not to put myself out there on a hated/shocked limb but, just as an example how not into television and movies I was as a kid; The Breakfast Club is going on what? Thirty or so years since its debut? Yeah, so I have watched bits and pieces of it before, however, I literally just watched the entire movie, beginning to end today...only about eight to nine hours ago (fantastic movie by the way).
But, back on topic to my issue with this article this woman typed up: I was all for her article at first because even though I do not like or appreciate the game, I do appreciate and can see how it could help those struggling with mental health issues such as depression and/or anxiety. Then, she wrote this:
My issue with this generalization firstly comes from the fact that I am working on entering the preventative healthcare industry by being a personal trainer, health coach, and perhaps at one point a nutritionist as well (my bachelors is in Health Sciences with a minor in Biology, and yes my courses all focused on Human Biology). This means my qualm with this statement comes all from a professional point of view.
I do not like people trying to "put out there," or perhaps "advertise" that this game has physical benefits. Unfortunately, my fiancé likes the game; granted not as much as some, but I have seen first hand what he is doing to "catch" these things (I know so little about Pokémon I don't even know for intellectual's sake what to call the creatures. Are the creatures all considered "Pokémon"? Is only the yellow guy Pikkachu a Pokémon because he is the main character, and I'm assuming has some special trait about him?). The "walking" that occurs, just from watching what he was doing from our apartment window (Had to stay there because my dog has incredibly high anxiety when he or myself leaves, especially when we leave and she can still see us through the window. She wouldn't get away from the window until he came back in from getting the creatures, so I had to pet her, hug her, and reassure her that her daddy was in fact returning.) was not enough to cause any real physical benefit for a few reasons:
(1) The walking was very stop and go, and when do physical activity, stopping and going will not reap any physical benefits, not to mention when doing any kind of physical activity, even walking, you NEVER want to just stop (especially if one is obese and has a lot to loose, just abruptly stopping even light activity is not good for the heart especially).
(2) The walking was low, to maybe light intensity at best. This is the definition of light intensity physical activity:
I am studying about this now for my personal trainer exam, I hope I don't quote this wrong, but I believe METS go up to 10-12 (apologies if off, do not have my book directly near me at the moment). Light intensity activity for those under the age of about 60 doesn't reap many physical benefits at all. However, there are some benefits to light intensity physical activity, however, they are all mental benefits (i.e.: clarity of the mind, feeling more positive/upbeat, having more energy, decrease in feelings of anxiety and depression, etc.). Again, mental benefits are excellent, and we do need to make sure our mental health is in good balance for most other things within ourselves to fall into place and become positive/beneficial. However, this means there is no reaping of physical benefits from Pokémon Go, as was said within the article.
Secondly, this game has only been out for about what? One to two weeks at maximum? There is no way that in that short of time there will be any credible or educational studies done and/or out on if Pokémon Go really does have any physical benefits. Doing proper, credible, and citing-worthy research at best (for really motivated researchers) may take six months to a year, with that number for some studies taking a few decades to properly complete.
Thirdly, when people are playing this game they are COMPLETELY engrossed in their phones. They are not paying attention to their movements, steps, if they are doing the activity of walking properly (yes, believe it or not, there are proper and improper ways to walk), where they are going, and to their surroundings. All of these things that players of this game are NOT paying attention to is EXACTLY why it is not smart or safe to try to say or promote this game of having physical benefits. First, lets look at the definition for physical activity:
As we can all see, the words movement, skeletal muscles, and energy expenditure are all within this definition. If one is doing any kind of activity that involves moving, and the use of skeletal muscles AND energy you simply HAVE to be present in that moment in what you are doing and how you are moving; not doing so is INCREDIBLY unsafe and dangerous for one's own body. Not paying attention to how the muscles are moving is how very easily preventable injuries occur. I'm sorry, but NO cell phone game is with a possible permanent injury that could have been easily avoided had that person just paid attention to their movements and what they were doing. Plus when people think of, or have the desire to do physical activity, they are thinking of doing something that will reap physical benefits for them in some form or another. This again (cannot re-iterate this enough) should not and really cannot happen if one is NOT paying attention to their movements or what they are doing. If people do not pay attention, their movements at best will be sloppy, without purpose, not in correct form, and thusly (again) most likely quite dangerous which again, can lead to injuries that could have been easily prevented.
The final piece I have for everyone is what is it then that makes physical activity beneficial? Typically to have physical benefits from physical activity or exercise, the intensity has to be either at moderate or vigorous intensity. It is recommended by the AHA (American Heart Association) for physical benefits of exercise/activity for one to get in at least/at minimum 30 minutes/day or 150 minutes/week (this is for adults: if you break that down at least 30 minutes, 5 times/week) of at least moderate intensity exercise or activity. To get to moderate intensity level of exercise or activity, a person has to do an activity that is getting their HR (heart rate) at 65% of their maximum HR capacity, while vigorous exercise is getting ones HR at 80% of their maximum HR. Heart rate capacity is found with the simple formula of 220 - your age. Below is an example of this using my age:
So, that is all I have to write on this issue at hand. In sum, though I do not like or ever intend to play Pokémon Go, I can still appreciate and see how this game can benefit one's mental health (especially for those with bad anxiety and depression, using those examples because I have chronic moderate anxiety and mild depression. Since I have both, if I liked Pokémon, I could see how this game would possibly be able to help my mental health since it forces one to get out of the house.). However, as a PSA: please people of the general public, do NOT be advertising this game as having physical benefits, it will give people the wrong idea, and is simply just NOT a safe way for people to try to get physical activity into their day since people are typically NOT paying attention to their movements or how they are moving; which is simply dangerous and is a recipe for injury and potential disaster.
Keep Healthy and Fit Everyone!
<3 Sarah
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