Last week I talked about the rise in blood pressure for kids who do not get outside for enough play and exercise. Another study reported in the Washington Post found equally disturbing news that about 7.6 million kids, ages one through twenty-one – that’s 9% of U.S. children and young adults have very low, deficient levels of vitamin D.  The rest of the kid population isn’t much better off – 70% of the kid population is affected with low vitamin D levels.

I remembered that vitamin D somehow is connected with calcium and that calcium is needed for healthy, strong bones, so much so that much of our milk and dairy products have vitamin D added. But I had to do some quick research to find out just how important vitamin D is.  What I found was scary: low levels of vitamin D is also linked to chronic diseases such as  high blood pressure, cancer, tooth decay, chronic pain, and diabetes, among others.  I stopped reading the list and ran outside to sit in the sun!  Because the way our bodies most efficiently absorb vitamin D is through exposure to sunlight.  It’s free, it’s easy.

And why are kids not getting enough sunlight? Too much time spent indoors in front of TV and video game screens. Kids need an active outdoor life for many reasons: Add vitamin D to the list!  See our Make It a MediaWise Summer parent guide from the National Institute on Media and the Family for ideas and add your own to help other parents.

How do you get your kids outside?

-Dr. Dave