Some extra weight actually offers adults protection against osteoporosis -- it puts stress on the bones and makes them stronger. But for kids, the opposite seems to be true, according to a new study.
Bone mass is built up during the first 25 years of life. The more bone you build during that time, the less your likelihood of developing osteoporosis. Today's kids, however, aren't drinking milk and getting the nutrients they need to properly develop their bone mass, reports this story from Cleveland's Plain Dealer.
Researchers looked at almost 350 children between 5 and 18 years old and found that the obese kids usually had lower bone mass than their slimmer counterparts. That's probably because lean muscle tissue contributes to the development of strong bones, while fat contributes little to bone formation.
Dr. Mary Horlick, a pediatric endocrinologist at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital in New York, and the lead researcher of the study, says more studies are needed to confirm her findings. But if they hold true, America's obese kids could face osteoporosis later in life.
