Preventing Bone Fractures in Children
Children who avoid dairy
products tend to have lower bone mass and higher risk of bone fracture. Because
dietary choices early in life can lead to a greater risk of bone fractures in children,
experts are urging parents to provide their children with the recommended three
daily servings of calcium-rich milk and dairy products.
Fractures in childhood are particularly serious because bone strengthening is put
on hold when the body’s resources go toward healing the fracture, which makes the
bones more susceptible to repeat fracture.
Today, only a fraction of children—12 percent of females and 32 percent of males—get
enough calcium to build bone mass and prevent bone fractures during their critical
teenage years, putting them at risk for fractures now and osteoporosis, a disease
where bones become brittle and more likely to break, later in life.
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association revealed that
boys are 32 percent and girls 56 percent more likely to experience bone fracture
than children were 40 years ago.
Children’s current eating patterns and rising obesity rates also correlate with
the increase in bone fractures in children. In 1945, Americans drank four times
more milk than carbonated soft drinks; in 2001, they consumed nearly two and a half
times more soda than milk. Childhood obesity has increased steadily as well, and
research shows fractures are reported more often by overweight than non-overweight
children. These factors increase the risk of repeat injury, which can impede growth
and bone mass accrual.
The window for building strong bones lasts from ages 9-14, but it’s never too late
to make bone health a priority. Parents play a critical role in preventing bone
fractures in children risk by encouraging milk and dairy foods, cutting out extras
and getting active with their children. Small changes made now can yield big benefits
for your children in years to come.
Milk and dairy products provide 70 percent of the calcium in the American diet and
provide other important nutrients like potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and protein.
Children and adolescents need three servings of dairy and 30 minutes of exercise
every day for optimal bone growth and strengthening. Because adolescence is typically
when teens forgo milk and dairy products for sodas and other empty calorie foods,
early family reinforcement is very important.
Simple steps to help prevent bone fractures in children:
- Get active! Weight-bearing exercise, such as soccer, walking or jumping rope, helps
build strong bones. Exercise is also important for maintaining a healthy weight.
- Encourage your child to drink milk with their lunch at home and school. Many schools
offer reduced-fat or fat-free flavored milks that kids love.
- Find out if nutrition education is part of your child’s school curriculum. Ideally,
nutrition education programs promote healthy foods from all of the food groups,
as well as daily physical activity.
- Set a good example by including milk and dairy products as part of your own daily
food choices. If you drink milk with your meals, your child is more likely to do
the same.
- Offer cheese and yogurt as bone-building meal components and snack foods. These
calcium-rich foods work well as ingredients in many recipes you cook
Small changes made now can yield big benefits for your children in years to come.