Games Blamed in Return of Victorian Era Disease
By Jane McEntegart, published on January 22, 2010
" There are plenty who blame videogames for anti-social behavior or the rise in childhood obesity. Many people believe gaming isn't healthy. Now, a paper in the British Medical Journal is blaming a recent increase of rickets cases in the UK on videogames.
For those of you who have never heard of rickets, don't worry, it's not exactly a common disease these days. In fact, it was more common in Victorian times (around 1840 to 1900). According to Nurse Google and Doctor Wikipedia, this 19th century disease, which results in a softening of the bones, is predominantly caused by a vitamin D deficiency. The most common and readily accessible source of vitamin D is, of course, sunlight.
According to the London Times, scientists say that rickets is becoming “disturbingly common” among British children.
Professor Simon Pearce, who co-authored the piece in the British Medical Journal says, “Kids tend to stay indoors more these days and play on their computers instead of enjoying the fresh air. This means their vitamin D levels are worse than in previous years.”
Pearce's colleague, Dr Tim Cheetham, a senior lecturer in pediatric endocrinology, added: “I am dismayed by the increasing numbers of children we are treating with this entirely preventable condition. Fifty years ago many children would have been given regular doses of cod liver oil, but this practice has all but died out.”
Pearce and Cheetham, are calling for milk and other food products to be supplemented with vitamin D in an attempt to counteract the problem. "
Source: http://www.tomsguide.com/us/Rickets-...news-5628.html
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