Bone study world-renowned
A bone health study 20 years in the making has proven what researchers in the College of Kinesiology suspected - that diet and exercise during adolescence has life-long effects on bone strength and a person’s risk of osteoporosis as an adult. But some of the results, like how bones actually develop during this time, are a bit of a surprise.
A bone scan of writer Mark Ferguson at age 15
The original idea for the pediatric bone mineral accrual study (PBMAS) stemmed from a journal article published by U of S researcher Don Bailey back in 1989, which showed that adolescent children have a high incidence of bone fracture. But he could not prove why this was happening.
“Now, in 2010, we have a much better idea why and it has everything to do with the interplay between bones and muscles.” says Adam Baxter-Jones, associate dean in kinesiology.
Baxter-Jones says the most important discovery has been in learning how bones develop. During adolescence, he explains, muscles grow first in anticipation of bone-growth. So, the more physically active kids are, the more muscle grows during adolescence, and subsequently, stronger, bigger bones develop. Eating habits play a big part too, he said, and it is not just about the amount of calcium a person consumes. The amount of fresh fruits and vegetables is equally important, as it affects the mineralization of the bone... check out the rest of the story in On Campus news