A growing body of evidence indicates that osteoporosis has its origin in early life and that the level of development of bone mass during childhood and adolescence strongly influences the risk for osteoporotic fractures . For this reason, osteoporosis should be viewed as a pediatric health issue.

Recently, attention has been focused on bone development in normal, healthy children with the recognition that the peak bone mass (the greatest amount of bone mass achieved during one’s lifetime) occurs during late adolescence or young adulthood. Peak bone mass may be the most important factor for preventing osteoporosis (3-4).

3. Bass SL. The prepubertal years: A uniquely opportune stage of growth when the skeleton is most responsive to exercise. Sports Med 2000;30:73-78.

4. Cumming SR, Black D, Nevitt M, Browner W, Cauley J, Ensrud K, et al. Bone density at various sites for prediction of hip fractures. Lancet 1993;341:72-75.