Low levels of outdoor play 'contributes to cases of rickets'
29/01/2010 The decreasing amount of time spent on outdoor play activities by Britain's youngsters could be leading to an increase in rickets, according to reports.
Rickets is a disease caused by a vitamin D deficiency and can lead to serious problems such as the softening of bones, which causes deformities and bow leggedness.
Researchers recently produced a paper for the British Medical Journal which revealed that cases of rickets, which have been virtually non-existent since the 1990s, are beginning to increase within the population.
Part of the reason behind this was said to be the increasing amount of time that people spend indoors, as people get much of their vitamin D from the sun.
Professor Simon Pearce said: "People tend to stay at home rather than going outside to kick a ball around. They stay at home on computer games."
Other factors included people wearing too much sunscreen.
The problem was said to be most severe among people from Asian and African countries living in the north of England.
A recent study by researchers at the University of Essex found that a lack of outdoor play was also contributing to the decreasing levels of fitness within UK children.
Rickets is a disease caused by a vitamin D deficiency and can lead to serious problems such as the softening of bones, which causes deformities and bow leggedness.
Researchers recently produced a paper for the British Medical Journal which revealed that cases of rickets, which have been virtually non-existent since the 1990s, are beginning to increase within the population.
Part of the reason behind this was said to be the increasing amount of time that people spend indoors, as people get much of their vitamin D from the sun.
Professor Simon Pearce said: "People tend to stay at home rather than going outside to kick a ball around. They stay at home on computer games."
Other factors included people wearing too much sunscreen.
The problem was said to be most severe among people from Asian and African countries living in the north of England.
A recent study by researchers at the University of Essex found that a lack of outdoor play was also contributing to the decreasing levels of fitness within UK children.
