Pokemon Go has done what every fitness app dreams of -- motivate the most sedentary Americans to get off their couches.
A new study from Microsoft Research found that the most interested Pokemon Go players took 26% more steps than before using the app. The largest behavior changes were seen among sedentary users.
The Microsoft researchers see tremendous promise for games to improve public health, given the importance of reaching inactive Americans.
Pokemon Go took the United States by storm this summer as people tromped through parks and yards in search of Charizards and Bulbasaurs. While it was widely suspected that the game was making users more active, the Microsoft study offers hard proof.