Researchers compared the eating and lifestyle habits of college students who play esports competitively versus those who don’t. They found that esports players drink more alcohol and energy drinks, skip breakfast more often, and eat more processed foods than their peers. Interestingly, both groups exercised about the same amount and got similar amounts of sleep. The study suggests that esports players might benefit from personalized nutrition advice to help them develop healthier eating patterns and reduce their risk of weight gain and metabolic problems.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Do college students who play esports competitively have different eating habits and lifestyles compared to students who don’t play esports?
  • Who participated: 225 Turkish university students (average age about 20-21 years old): 115 who played esports seriously and 110 who didn’t. Both groups were similar in age and background.
  • Key finding: Esports players were significantly more likely to drink alcohol (45% vs 16%), consume energy drinks (35% vs 13%), and skip breakfast (68% vs 46%) compared to non-esports players. However, both groups exercised similarly and slept about the same amount.
  • What it means for you: If you play esports, you may want to pay extra attention to your breakfast habits, limit energy drinks and alcohol, and focus on eating whole foods instead of processed snacks. This could help you maintain a healthy weight and avoid metabolism problems as you get older.

The Research Details

This was a cross-sectional study, which means researchers collected information from both groups at the same point in time and compared them. The researchers asked 225 Turkish college students to fill out an online survey about their eating habits, what they typically eat, how much they exercise, how long they sleep, and whether they follow a Mediterranean diet (a healthy eating pattern based on foods common in Mediterranean countries). The survey also asked about their age, background, and whether they played esports competitively.

The esports group included students who played video games competitively, while the non-esports group included students who didn’t play esports. Both groups were similar in age and other basic characteristics, which made them good for comparison.

This type of study is useful for spotting differences between groups, but it can’t prove that esports causes these eating differences—it just shows that the differences exist.

Understanding how esports players’ lifestyles differ from other students is important because esports is growing rapidly among young people. If we know what unhealthy habits esports players tend to develop, we can create better health programs and nutrition advice specifically designed for them. This could help prevent weight gain, poor nutrition, and health problems later in life.

This study has some strengths: it used a reasonable sample size of 225 students and compared two similar groups. However, it has limitations: it only looked at Turkish college students, so results might not apply to other countries or age groups. The study relied on students self-reporting their eating habits, which can be inaccurate. Also, because it’s a cross-sectional study, we can’t determine whether esports causes these eating habits or if people with certain eating habits are more likely to play esports.

What the Results Show

Esports players showed significantly different eating patterns compared to non-esports players. The most striking difference was in breakfast habits: 68% of esports players skipped breakfast compared to only 46% of non-esports players. This is concerning because breakfast is an important meal that helps fuel your brain and body for the day.

Esports players also consumed much more alcohol and energy drinks. About 45% of esports players drank alcohol regularly, compared to only 16% of non-esports players. Similarly, 35% of esports players consumed energy drinks regularly, compared to 13% of non-esports players. Energy drinks contain high amounts of caffeine and sugar, which can affect sleep and metabolism.

Both groups reported eating processed foods at similar rates, though esports players ate slightly more. Processed foods are convenient but often high in salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats. Interestingly, when researchers looked at adherence to the Mediterranean diet (a healthy eating pattern), both groups performed similarly, with about 30-36% of each group following it well.

Physical activity levels and sleep duration were surprisingly similar between the two groups, which was unexpected. Researchers thought esports players might exercise less or sleep less due to long gaming sessions, but this wasn’t the case in this study. This suggests that the main differences between the groups are related to food and drink choices rather than activity levels or sleep.

Previous research has suggested that people who spend a lot of time on screens tend to have less healthy eating habits, often reaching for convenient snacks and drinks. This study confirms that pattern for esports players specifically. The high rates of energy drink consumption align with other studies showing that competitive gamers often use these drinks to stay alert during long gaming sessions. However, the similar exercise and sleep levels between groups differ from some previous research, suggesting that not all esports players have sedentary lifestyles.

This study only included Turkish college students, so the results may not apply to esports players in other countries or different age groups. The study relied on students honestly reporting their eating habits through a survey, which can be inaccurate—people often underestimate how much they eat or drink. Because this is a cross-sectional study (a snapshot in time), we can’t determine whether esports causes these eating habits or whether people with certain eating habits are more drawn to esports. The study also didn’t measure actual body weight or health markers, so we can’t confirm that these eating habits actually led to weight gain or health problems in this group.

The Bottom Line

If you play esports competitively, consider these evidence-based suggestions: (1) Make breakfast a priority—eating a healthy breakfast can improve focus and energy for gaming and studying (moderate confidence); (2) Reduce energy drink consumption and replace with water or unsweetened beverages (moderate-to-high confidence); (3) Limit alcohol consumption, especially during the week (high confidence); (4) Include more whole foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins in your diet instead of processed snacks (moderate-to-high confidence). These changes don’t require giving up esports—just making smarter food choices around your gaming schedule.

These findings are most relevant to college-aged esports players, especially those who compete seriously or play for extended periods. Coaches, parents, and esports organizations should also pay attention, as they can help promote healthier habits. Non-esports players don’t need to worry about these specific findings, though the general advice about limiting energy drinks and alcohol applies to everyone. People with existing health conditions should consult their doctor before making major dietary changes.

You might notice improved energy and focus within 1-2 weeks of eating breakfast regularly and reducing energy drinks. Better sleep quality could follow within 2-4 weeks. Weight and metabolism changes typically take 4-8 weeks to become noticeable, and long-term health benefits develop over months and years of consistent healthy habits.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily breakfast consumption (yes/no), number of energy drinks per day, and alcohol servings per week. Set a goal of eating breakfast 5+ days per week and limiting energy drinks to 1-2 per week maximum.
  • Use the app to set a daily breakfast reminder for 30 minutes after waking up. Create a simple breakfast prep plan (like overnight oats or eggs) that takes less than 5 minutes. Log each energy drink and alcohol drink to build awareness of consumption patterns.
  • Review weekly trends in breakfast adherence and beverage consumption. Take monthly photos or measurements to track physical changes. Monitor energy levels and gaming performance to see if better nutrition improves focus and endurance during gaming sessions.

This research describes associations between esports participation and eating habits in a specific group of Turkish college students and should not be interpreted as medical advice. Individual nutritional needs vary based on age, health status, activity level, and personal goals. Anyone considering significant dietary changes, especially those with existing health conditions, diabetes, or taking medications, should consult with a healthcare provider or registered dietitian before making changes. This study cannot prove that esports causes unhealthy eating—it only shows that differences exist between the groups studied. Results may not apply to esports players in other countries, age groups, or competitive levels.