1	Health and the Internet
2	The internet offers many good things: Entertainment: online games, music downloads, video clips, etc. Knowledge: OPACs, online classes, scholarly journals, articles, news, weather, updates Convenience: quick and easy access, grocery & shopping, home delivery, saves time Communication: email, cuts through distance, satellite, video phone, send pictures
3	…BUT it is not without a downside Leaves less time for exercise Leads to higher obesity rates Replaces reality with cyberspace Decline of physical health - eyestrain, carpal tunnel, neck and back aches
4	Obesity Obesity is due to overeating and a lack of physical activity Kids who are obese would rather stay inside where they can have fun on the computer than go out and be teased by other children, further causing more weight gain. People who are overweight and do not exercise are at greater risk for heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and other life-threatening illnesses.
5	Decline of mental health People suffering from clinical depression and social anxiety disorder are tempted to hide behind a computer screen instead of dealing with their problems face on. Physical activity is proven to boost energy and mood and is essential to recovery.
6	"Patients suffering from SAD are..." Patients suffering from SAD are encouraged to immerse themselves in social situations in order to slowly accumulate and reduce symptoms of the disorder. The internet with its many functions and easy access is an attractive alternative; it offers total access to everything one would need, yet also provides seclusion from the outside world.
7	Internet dependency/addiction is when excess use of the internet leads to negative effects on one’s health, social life, and work. Warning signs of internet addiction: Internet use has affected sleep and physical being. They are spending less and less time doing other activities. They spend a lot of time thinking about the internet when they are not on it. They use it to avoid other things that are bothering them in life. They lie about how much time they spend on the internet. The most common form of internet addiction is pornography, online gambling, chatrooms, and shopping. These seemingly harmless things can lead to divorce, poor performance at work, and relationship problems with those around you.
8	“Internet dependency is a problem of human disconnection.”
9	For more information on internet addiction and other information concerning health visit these sites: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/eyestrain/WL00060 http://netaddiction.com/faqsindex.htm http://www.counseling.umd.edu/Selfhelp/sh_netad.htm http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/depression.cfm http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Depression_and_exercise?OpenDocument http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/obesity.html http://www.webmd.com/
10	So…the moral is The internet is a tool. It is meant to make our life easier to deal with amidst all the fuss, but it is not a solution to everything. Increase your quality of life by being active, enjoying the sunshine, and spending time with family and friends. Besides, a computer won’t hug you back…