1993 Volume 46 Issue 5 Pages 387-394
The effects of eating habit and physical activity on bone mineral density (BMD) were investigated in 654 (age: 40, 45, 50, 55 and 60 years) pre- and postmenopausal women. We measured lumbar spine BMD using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), assessed physical parameters such as height, weight and body fat, and nutrient intake from 3-day dietary records, and collected additional information from questionnaires. The following results were obtained. 1) BMD decreased with advancing age, declining markedly just after menopause. However, all age groups had a high BMD level compared with the standard BMD for healthy Japanese women. 2) BMD was correlated significantly with both weight and BMI. 3) Calcium intake was below the recommended dietary allowance for all ages, but increased with age. 4) Subjects who exercised regularly had significantly higher BMD than those who did not. 5) Those who were highly aware of their diet and physical activity had high BMD, and this awareness increased with age. Based on these results, high dietary and exercise awareness appear to be important for preventing osteoporosis.
