Fast food results in poor bone health in children, says study
Posted on: 17/Oct/2015 2:36:45 PM
A study published in the journal Osteoporosis International has said that fast food may lead to poor bone development in small children. The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Southampton in the UK.
Researchers studied Bone Mineral Density (BMD) and Bone Mineral Content (BMC) of 1107 children. The numbers were noted down at birth and then again at four and/ or six years. This data was then compared to food outlets in the child`s neighbourhood. These outlets included supermarkets, fast food outlets and health speciality stores. Results showed that those children who had more access to fast food outlets had lower BMD and BMC levels; and those who had more access to health speciality stores had higher BMD and BMC levels.
Said one of the researchers, These findings suggest that the exposure of mothers and children to more healthy food environments might optimize childhood bone development through its influence on the quality of the maternal diet and dietary choices during childhood... More extensive research is needed, but if confirmed in further studies, this would imply that action to improve the food environment could have benefits for childhood bone development.
