Why Think of Osteoporosis in Adolescents
Dr. Jennifer Rice DPT
Prevention of Osteoporosis (OP) as an adult requires knowledge and implementation of establishing peak bone mass during one’s childhood. Too often, adults are diagnosed with OP in their 50s or 60s and have never heard of the disease. It is my goal to educate parents and teens in the community on the importance of preventing OP later in life by making a commitment to developing healthy diet and exercise habits early on.
According to the World Health Organization, adolescence is defined as the period of development, physically, cognitively and psychosocially, between the ages of 10 and 19. This is the perfect time to develop a healthy diet and exercise habits for life. As diet relates to bone health, ensuring proper calcium and vitamin D is critical. Calcium is vital for keeping your bones dense and strong. Vitamin D is necessary so that your bones can absorb the calcium you eat. Both of these nutrients foster peak bone mineral density (BMD) which is how medical professionals evaluate your bones at any age, however, primarily in later adulthood. A lower-than-normal bone mineral density is defined as OP, in which the bones become brittle and fragile and are at a higher risk for fracture.
Osteoporosis is the underlying cause of 1.5 million fractures every year. Half of the women 50 years and older, will suffer an osteoporosis-related fracture at some point in their lifetime. The reason this statistic is so scary is that a fracture at 50 years of age results in decreased overall mobility and increased risk of mortality.
So, now do I have your attention? There are recommended dietary allowances of calcium depending on age.
Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) for CALCIUM intake:
- Ages 1 to 3 years: 700 milligrams (mg)
- Ages 4 to 8 years: 1,000mg
- Ages 9 to 18 years: 1,300mg
- Ages 19 to 50 years: 1,000mg
These DRAs are higher than younger children because this is the time during physical development when optimum peak bone mass is established. If adequate bone mass is not promoted, the likelihood of developing OP later in life increases.
Along with proper nutrition, physical exercise is importance during adolescence for bone health. Particularly weight bearing exercises where the muscles have to resist a strain which therefore results in denser, stronger bones. Weight bearing exercises such as jumping, skipping, jogging and hopping put the greatest strain on the bone, hence improving overall bone density.
Weight bearing exercise in general directly coincides with improved bone mineral density and overall enhanced bone health. This is true for an adolescent who participates in organized athletics or just one who exercises for fun.
If you have any concerns for a group or individual adolescent, please do not hesitate to contact myself or your pediatrician to ensure that they are educated in the importance of developing healthy habits with regards to diet and exercise. It is much easier to ensure adequate calcium and vitamin D intake at a younger age than to deal with the painful and debilitating results of an osteoporotic-related bone fracture later in life. Your loved one’s quality of life in the future is dependent on early education and implementation of healthy bone habits.
For further education and information on how to manage Osteopenia and/or Osteoporosis please contact Dr. Jennifer Rice DPT at Made New Physical Therapy (717) 568-2023
INFORMATION: National Institutes of Health(.gov); World Health Organization, Webster Dictionary