Osteoporosis: Implications for risk reduction in the college setting

Osteoporosis is often considered a chronic disease of older adulthood. As w ith many chronic diseases, lifestyle behaviors adopted during young adultho od are important risk factors for future development of osteoporosis. The c ollege student population represents the age group in which optimal bone de velopment is likely to occur and certain lifestyle behaviors are reinforced . Therefore, risk factors for osteoporosis, including nutritional insuffici ency of calcium and vitamin D, smoking, alcohol abuse, excessive exercise, use of steroids, and high-protein diets, have special relevance for this ta rget population. The authors examine risk factors for osteoporosis that are especially relevant to the college health setting and offer intervention s trategies for college health professionals.