Chinese study showed lower levels of myopia when kids spend more time outdoors

A Chinese study has revealed lower levels of myopia in children who spend more time outdoors.

The study, designed to assess the efficacy of preventing myopia by increasing the amount of time spent outdoors by youngsters, was conducted among grade 1 students at 12 primary schools in Guangzhou, China between October 2010 and October 2013.

The Journal of the American Medical Association has reported on the randomised clinical trial among 952 children with a mean age of 6.6 years. The study looked at intervention in six of the schools which took the form of an additional 40-minute outdoor class. Parents were also encouraged to engage their children in outdoor activities after school.