Method for detecting distance between user and mobile terminal and mobile terminal

The invention provides a method for detecting a distance between a user and a mobile terminal. The method comprises the following steps of judging whether the detected light rays of surroundings change or not; when the detected light rays change is judged, sending a distance detection signal; detecting the distance between the user and the mobile terminal according to the distance detection signal. By adopting the method, provided by the embodiment of the invention, the distance between the user and the mobile terminal can be effectively prompted; meanwhile, the method can be applied to daily life, and when the user reads or writes, the mobile terminal employing the method can be put in the same plane as a book, the distance between the user and the book can be prompted, and the probability of occurrence of ophthalmic diseases such as myopia is reduced. The invention also provides the mobile terminal.