Video games blamed for rise in rickets
Gaming is coming under fire once again. But before you brace yourself for the usual arguments concerning in-game violence and sexual content, be prepared for something of a Dickensian twist.
For gaming is not being blamed here for a rise in violence or a drop in exam results. Nope, its being attributed to a sharp rise in RICKETS in UK children, a condition not widely seen since the Victorian age.
The condition which causes bones to soften, leading to physical deformity is directly connected to Vitamin D levels. Professor Simon Pearce and paediatrician Timothy Cheetham, who have written a report on the dramatic increase in confirmed cases, blame the rise on hours spent in front of a screen indoors.
Professor Pearce said: “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.”
A quick game of Super Mario: Sunshine should sort that out then, right?
If you’re looking for a laugh related to this story, get yourself on Twitter and enter the #gamesblamedforrickets hash tag. There are some real gems on there, my favourites being “Splinter Cellulite”, “Halo-tosis” and “Grand Theft Autism”.
Via: The Times
