Exercising in early adulthood may reduce future risk of osteoporosis

Getting plenty of exercise early on in life may reduce a person's chances of requiring a prescription to buy Fosamax due to osteoporosis an adult. A new study has shown that people who are more physically active in their 20s have stronger bones later in life.

Researchers from the University of Gothenburg analyzed the bone density of 833 men between the ages of 19 and 24. The results showed that those who exercised more often had stronger bones than those who were physically inactive.

"The men who increased or maintained high levels of physical activity also developed larger and thicker bones in their lower arms and legs," said Mattias Lorentzon, who led the study. "These findings suggest that maintaining or, ideally, increasing physical activity can improve bone growth in our youth, which probably reduces the risk of fractures later on."

The findings indicate that young people who exercise face a lower lifetime risk of osteoporosis because an individual's bone density in early adulthood often predicts the strength of their bones later in life. The majority of bone density is put on during puberty. For the rest of a person's life their bones get weaker. Therefore, it is important to have very strong bones heading into early adulthood.