During the first week of playing the game, users took an average of nearly 1,000 more steps a day than they did in the month before downloading the game on their phones. That's about 11 more minutes of walking in a 24-hour period. The study included 560 "avid" players and 622 users who had yet to play the game for comparison. Researchers found that sex, age, race, body weight, location (urban, suburban or rural) and walkability of the nearby area didn't have an effect on activity levels.

While the physical benefits may not last, the game did offer real help to people who suffer from anxiety, depression and other mental health issues. You don't have to look far to find an account of Pokémon Go encouraging someone to get out of the house and interact with others. It may sound simple enough, but it's a big deal to those who are dealing with depression and the positive effect that a little movement can have on a person's overall mood goes a long way.