Assessing physical activity levels among esports players: A cross-sectional study at the Esports World Cup, Riyadh

Background: Esports, a form of competitive video gaming, has evolved from casual entertainment into a professional pursuit, characterized by rigorous training, large audiences, and increasing revenues. Its sedentary nature, including extended periods of seated gaming, raises concerns about health risks such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and mental health issues. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among 775 national and international esports players at the 2024 Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Physical activity was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire–Short Form, and results were analyzed to determine the overall activity levels and associations with player type (professional vs. amateur). Results: A significant relationship was observed between player type and physical activity ( P = 0.013), with 44.7% of professional players reporting high activity compared to 33% of amateurs. Overall, 68.8% of participants met World Health Organization guidelines, a figure comparable to the global average. Conclusion: Despite the sedentary demands of competitive gaming, esports players, especially professionals, exhibit notable levels of physical activity, challenging the stereotype of inactive gamers and underscoring the need to integrate physical fitness into training. This highlights an emerging focus on fitness in professional gaming. Future research should investigate how fitness affects performance outcomes and health in this rapidly expanding field.