Study emphasises importance of exercising outdoors
28/10/2009 The importance of spending time exercising outdoors or taking part in outdoor play activities has been highlighted by a new study which showed a rise in the number of children with vitamin D deficiencies.
Research detailed in the journal Pediatrics revealed that one in five children in the US aged under 11 suffer from a vitamin D deficiency, which can be caused by not spending enough time outdoors.
According to the study's lead author Jonathan Mansbach, a researcher at Harvard Medical School and the Children's Hospital in Boston, vitamin D deficiencies put children at risk of a variety of health problems, including weak bones, infections and diabetes.
The research used data from a 2001-06 government health survey of nearly 3,000 children.
Vitamin D's main source is sunlight, which is why it is important for children to take part in outdoor play activities and exercise. However it can also be found in small quantities in food such as oily fish and eggs or fortified foods such as margarine and breakfast cereals.
Research detailed in the journal Pediatrics revealed that one in five children in the US aged under 11 suffer from a vitamin D deficiency, which can be caused by not spending enough time outdoors.
According to the study's lead author Jonathan Mansbach, a researcher at Harvard Medical School and the Children's Hospital in Boston, vitamin D deficiencies put children at risk of a variety of health problems, including weak bones, infections and diabetes.
The research used data from a 2001-06 government health survey of nearly 3,000 children.
Vitamin D's main source is sunlight, which is why it is important for children to take part in outdoor play activities and exercise. However it can also be found in small quantities in food such as oily fish and eggs or fortified foods such as margarine and breakfast cereals.
