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Childhood growth, physical activity, and peak bone mass in women

C Cooper1, M Cawley, A Bhalla

  • 1MRC Environmental Epidemiology Unit, Southampton General Hospital, United Kingdom.

Journal of Bone and Mineral Research : the Official Journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
|June 1, 1995
PubMed

Insights

Early life growth and childhood physical activity significantly impact peak bone mass in women. Infant weight and height influence bone size, while activity enhances bone density, crucial for preventing osteoporosis.

Area of Science:

  • Osteoporosis research
  • Bone health and development
  • Human growth studies

Background:

  • Peak bone mass is vital for preventing osteoporotic fractures.
  • Understanding early life factors influencing bone gain is key for osteoporosis prevention.
  • Longitudinal studies are essential to track growth and bone development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between childhood growth, lifestyle factors, and peak bone mass in women.
  • To identify specific growth parameters and activities influencing bone mineral acquisition.
  • To establish the impact of early life trajectory on adult bone status.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study of 153 women born in 1968-1969, assessed in 1990.
  • Utilized linked birth and school health records for childhood growth data.
  • Measured adult bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) using dual X-ray absorptiometry.

Main Results:

  • Infant weight at 1 year correlated significantly with adult BMC at the lumbar spine and femoral neck, independent of current weight.
  • Childhood height measurements showed strong associations with adult BMC at both skeletal sites.
  • Physical activity emerged as the primary lifestyle determinant of BMD, even after accounting for body build.

Conclusions:

  • Infant growth, particularly weight and height trajectory by age 1, establishes the skeletal framework for peak bone mass.
  • Childhood physical activity plays a crucial role in modulating bone mineral density within this framework.
  • These findings highlight the importance of early life interventions for optimizing peak bone mass and reducing future fracture risk.

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