Osteoporosis Health Center

Peak Bone Mass

Factors Affecting Peak Bone Mass continued...

Physical Activity: Girls and boys and young adults who exercise regularly generally achieve greater peak bone mass than those who do not. Women and men older than age 30 can help prevent bone loss with regular exercise. The best exercise for your bones is weight-bearing exercise. This is exercise that forces you to work against gravity, such as walking, hiking, jogging, stair climbing, tennis, dancing, and weight lifting.

Lifestyle Behaviors: Smoking has been linked to low bone density in adolescents and is associated with other unhealthy behaviors, such as alcohol use and a sedentary lifestyle. The negative impact that smoking has on peak bone mass is further worsened by the fact that those who begin smoking at a younger age are more likely to be heavier smokers later in life. These older smokers are at further risk for bone loss and fracture.

The impact of alcohol on peak bone mass is not clear. The effects of alcohol on bone have been more extensively studied in adults, and the results indicate that high consumption of alcohol has been linked to low bone density. Experts assume that high consumption of alcohol in youth has a similar adverse effect on skeletal health.