Body Composition and Health Parameters in Esports Players: An Updated Systematic Review

Francisco de Borja Azaña Martín; Laura Moreno-GonzAlez; José Luis Felipe; Jorge García-Unanue; Leonor Gallardo & Daniel Duclos-Bastías

Summary

The exponential growth of esports has raised concerns about the physical health of its players. This systematic review aims to synthesize the evidence on body composition and health parameters of esports players, a group potentially at risk due to their sedentary lifestyle. PRISMA guidelines were followed and the following databases were considered: PubMed, SCOPUS and Web of Science. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist. Of the 711 studies initially identified, 32 studies met the inclusion criteria. Among esports players, these studies showed varied health outcomes with common issues such as high body fat percentage and irregular sleep patterns. However, some players demonstrated fitness levels comparable to non-esports controls, suggesting a complex health profile. The results suggest the need for targeted health interventions in esports players, emphasizing the importance of addressing nutritional habits and PA levels. Although some players maintain good health, the overall trend suggests the need to improve lifestyle choices within this population. This review provides an overview of the health of esports players, characterized by health risks and intervention opportunities. Future research should explore the long-term health impacts and effectiveness of specific health strategies for esports athletes.

KEY WORD: Body composition; Health parameters; Sports players.

How to cite this article

DE BORJA AZAÑA MARTÍN, F.; MORENO-GONZÁLEZ, L.; FELIPE, J.L.; GARCÍA-UNANUE, J.; LEONOR GALLARDO, L. & DUCLOS-BASTÍAS, D. Body composition and health parameters in esports players: An updated systematic review. Int. J. Morphol., 43(1):131-140, 2025.

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