Gaming doesn't give you rickets

There have been many headlines this week about a study that links computer games with rickets, a disease cause by a lack of vitamin D.

To blame computer games seems unfair - clearly the blame lies with sedentary lifestyles in general.

It isn't just games - there are other distractions in the household, such as the web and TV, for example. But still, these things alone can't account for the reported increase in the brittleness of youngsters' bones.

In many urban environments, children have few outdoor places to go - there may very well be no garden, or even a nearby park. And if there are, parents can often restrict children's outdoor activities, particularly unsupervised, due to safety fears often exacerbated by disproportionate media coverage.

The trouble is, once lifestyle patterns are set, they are hard to change. Schools and parents need to make sure children can go outside on a regular basis, whether the sun is shining or not. And more supervised, extra-curricular activity groups and areas for kids wouldn't hurt either.

Also, there are dietary considerations. Regular outdoor activity is one way of combating vitamin D deficiency, a diet rich in oily fish, cereals and dairy product another.

There's no reason why kids should be stopped from watching TV, surfing the web or playing games. But everything in moderation.