Electronics-addicted Chinese kids suffer impaired eyesight

(ECNS) -- Addicted to electronic products such as the iPad, children spend less than one hour engaged in outdoor activities each day, resulting in shortsightedness and potential health problems, Beijing Youth Daily reported.

The number of children preferring to stay indoors, alongside rates of shortsightedness, are higher among Chinese children compared to European and American counterparts, according to a white paper released by the Peking University Institute of Child and Adolescent Health.

When asked how much time their kids aged 2-14 spend on outdoor activities each day, 60.87 percent of parents said less than one hour. Of the children surveyed, 32.48 percent spend an average of 1-3 hours using iPads, TVs or computers.

An analysis of 15,000 children in Beijing revealed that shortsightedness results from a lack of outdoor activities. The rate of myopia increased from less than one third to nearly four fifths since 1970. Over 40 percent of elementary school students, twice as much as in 2000, are now suffering from myopia, while this number in the US and Germany is less than 10 percent.

Decreasing outdoor activities also weakens health. During both autumn and winter, flue among children under the age of 14 went up to 65 percent, according to statistics.

Ma Jun, Director of the Peking University Institute of Child and Adolescent Health advises that kids should do moderate exercise in winter to improve their cold-resistance and enhance immunity.