Esports: Health, Performance and Society

virtual reality, and metaverse-based environments, considering their implications for competition, labor, and health in the near future.This book is intended for scholars, graduate students, and practitioners working in sports science, sociology, economics, public health, media studies, and digital culture.It is also designed to serve as a reference for policymakers, federation representatives, team managers, coaches, and health professionals seeking evidence-based insights into the rapidly evolving esports landscape.By bridging disciplinary boundaries, the volume aims to contribute to the maturation of esports studies as a coherent and rigorous field of research.Ultimately, this book argues that esports should not be viewed merely as a digital extension of traditional sport, nor as a detached form of entertainment.Instead, it represents a distinct competitive domain that reflects broader transformations in how societies produce value, organize competition, and understand athlete health in the digital age.It is our hope that this volume will encourage more integrative, critical, and health-conscious approaches to the study and practice of esports.