J Prev Med Public Health.  2013 Mar;46(2):89-95.

Physical Activity in Adolescence Has a Positive Effect on Bone Mineral Density in Young Men

• Kim J
• Jung M
• Hong YP
• Park JD
• Choi BS

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Little is yet known about the determinants of bone mineral density (BMD) in young adults. Thus, in this study, we aimed to determine the factors that have an impact on BMD in young men.
METHODS
Questionnaires were sent out to 111 male medical students. Information on age, socio-economic status, medical history, lifestyle, physical activity during adolescence, school club participation, current physical activity, and dietary intake were collected by the survey. Height, weight, percent body fat and muscle mass were estimated by bioelectrical impedance, and BMD was obtained using calcaneal quantitative ultrasound. Using the Poisson regression model, prevalence ratios (PRs) were used to estimate the degree of association between risk factors and osteopenia.
RESULTS
The height and current physical activity showed a correlation to the Osteoporosis Index. Among the categorized variables, past physical activity during adolescence (p=0.002) showed a positive effect on the bone mineral content. In the multivariate model, past physical activity (> or =1 time/wk) had a protective effect on osteopenia (PR, 0.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.18 to 0.75) and present physical activity (1000 metabolic equivalent of task-min/wk) decreased the risk of osteopenia (PR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.91).
CONCLUSIONS
Past physical activity during adolescence is as important as physical activity in the present for BMD in young men.

Keyword

Bone density; Metabolic bone diseases; Risk factors; Motor activity

MeSH Terms

Adult
Body Mass Index
*Bone Density
Calcium, Dietary
Humans
Male
*Motor Activity
Questionnaires
Risk Factors
Smoking
Socioeconomic Factors
Students, Medical/psychology
Young Adult
Calcium, Dietary