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Esports matches excite like exercise but calorie burn remains low, study finds
Esports players’ heart rates surge during matches, but their actual energy expenditure is lower than in typical exercise, a study found. Researchers including Masaryk University reviewed 176 papers and analysed five studies measuring physiological changes during games ranging from League of Legends to Counter-Strike and FIFA. Heart rates rose sharply in some cases, but energy use stayed around 1.3 to 2.5 kcal per minute, consistent with light activity.
