Grant: Regional Partnership Program New Investigator Award

Bone mass gain, lifestyle behaviors (such as physical activity) and other factors (such as muscle mass development) during adolescence affect bone strength development, and consequently are thought to be important in reducing risk of osteoporotic fractures later in life. However, only studies that follow the same individuals from childhood to adulthood can tell us how important childhood and adolescent growth, bone development and lifestyle are for adult bone strength. Currently no study like that exists. Thus, our main purpose is to examine the relationship of bone development and physical activity during the adolescent growth period to bone strength at wrist and hip in young adulthood (30 years of age). This study is an extension of the Saskatchewan Pediatric Bone Mineral Accrual Study which measured children (age 8-15 years) growth, bone mass accrual and lifestyle factors over 7 years (1991-1998). These participants are now entering their 4th decade of life. The proposed study provides a unique opportunity to address an important question: Do growth and lifestyle factors during childhood and adolescence affect long-term bone strength?