Children And Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis and children are not often thought about in the same context as osteoporosis is commonly thought to be an "old person" disease. Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to become fragile and break easily. There is no known cause or cure for osteoporosis. There are treatment methods available, however prevention is the best treatment, especially since in most people the disease can be prevented altogether.

Throughout life our bones are continually being removed and replaced through a process called remodeling. In childhood and adolescence when bones are growing in size and strength, more tissue is being replaced then removed. Bone mass has been determined to be the single most predictor of osteoporosis and fracture. As we age our bones begin to lose bone mass. Peak bone mass is reached sometime in the mid to late 20's, at this time bones are the strongest and most dense as they can be.The bone mass you reach while young helps determine your skeletal health for the rest of your life. The more bone mass you have after adolescence, the more protection you have against osteoporosis from losing bone mass later in life. Childhood is a critical time for developing lifestyle habits that support good bone health. A proper balanced diet, regular exercise and healthy living as a child can make all the difference as an adult. As parents and as a society we should encourage children to make good choices.

What we eat has a significant affect on our overall health and of our bodies, including our bones. Since during childhood the bones are still forming it is of utmost importance that they are getting the nutrition they need. Children should be getting 3-4 servings a day of calcium rich foods. The number of servings will also depend on the calcium content as it is recommended that children get between 900-1200mg of calcium a day. Even if they are lactose intolerant and cannot tolerate dairy, there are plenty of options available be it non-dairy foods, or lactose free dairy foods. The vitamin D requirements for your child's needs are around 200 IU per day and can usually be reached by getting a few hours of sunshine a week and by consuming fortified foods.

Plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables should be offered; low fat snacks should also be given as an alternative to processed foods that contain additives and little or no nutritional value. Children should not consume sodas, or other highly caffeinated beverages. Regular exercise or physical activity is crucial for children to build and maintain strong, healthy bones. It is known that the greatest impact of exercise on the skeleton occurs in children before puberty but the benefits of exercise continues throughout life. Exercise places stress on the body and bones like muscles, respond to stress by becoming bigger and stronger. Physical activity involving jumping may be a particularly effective way to increase bone mass. The negative effects of smoking and alcohol should also be stressed for several reasons, one of which puts them at an increased risk for osteoporosis.

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