Osteoporosis: prevention during the adolescent and young adult years

Osteoporosis is becoming recognized as one of today's serious public health problems. The problem is compounded by the fact that to date, no clearly defined cure has been found. Recent studies have uncovered measures that may prevent or help postpone the onset of this disease. These measures focus on intervention during the adolescent and young adult years when the body is naturally building bone. Prevention should include a balanced diet with adequate calcium and vitamin D, exercise and a decreased use of alcohol and cigarettes. In order to encourage better compliance when working with teens, interventions need to be tailored to meet the autonomy needs inherent in this age group.