A survey conducted by the National Hospital of Endocrinology on more than 2,800 Vietnamese children from 11 to 14 years old has shown that all of them use at least a social media platform while over half play online games.

The results of the survey, which was carried out in 2018 and 2019 on a national scale, revealed alarming rates of overweightness, obesity, and prediabetes in children between the ages of 11 and 14.

Accordingly, 6.2 percent of the tested group had a higher-than-normal blood glucose level, or prediabetes. Notably, 8.2 percent of the 11-year-old children suffered from this problem.

People with prediabetes are prone to diabetes if they take no measure to timely tackle the problem, according to the researchers.

Nearly 18 percent of the surveyed children were overweight and 9.9 percent were obese.

On the other hand, the survey found out that over 34 percent of the respondents play online games longer than one hour a day.

All of them are users of at least a social media network, with 88 percent being on social media less than 60 minutes a day.

The good news from the survey is that 90.6 percent of the children play at least one sport, with the girls exercising less than 60 minutes a day — the standard amount of exercise time for children in this age group.

The research team recommends that it is time for families and schools to take timely and comprehensive measures to help children have a healthier lifestyle, including increasing time to exercise, reducing time staying online, and having an appropriate diet.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!