Osteoporosis knowledge, beliefs, and practices among adolescent females

Purpose: To assess knowledge, beliefs, and practices of osteoporosis risk factors (physical activity, smoking, and nutrition) among adolescent girls. Methods: Questionnaires consisting of items assessing knowledge, beliefs, and practices regarding physical activity, calcium intake, and cigarette smoking were administered to 227 girls aged 12-16 years. The adolescent girls were attending public and separate schools in a small-sized Canadian city. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, and Chi-square tests were used to analyze the data. Results: Female adolescents believed that physical inactivity, smoking, and inadequate calcium were health-risking behaviors and osteoporosis risk factors, however, specific in-depth knowledge regarding these risk factors was lacking. Findings further showed that health-risking behaviors were evident, as 25% were current smokers, 58% consumed less than the adequate intake for calcium, and 52% had scores that reflected low to moderate physical activity levels. Conclusion: These results highlight the need for educational interventions to promote specific osteo-protective practices among adolescent girls. (c) 2005 Society for Adolescent Medicine. All rights reserved.