Professor Susan Lanham-New, Clinical Advisor to the National Osteoporosis Society and Professor of Nutrition at the University of Surrey, says: “Diet in early adulthood is so important because by the time we get into our late twenties it is too late to reverse the damage caused by poor diet and nutrient deficiencies and the opportunity to build strong bones has passed.” Half of all women and one in five men develop osteoporosis after the age of 50. Broken bones, also known as fractures, caused by osteoporosis can be very painful and slow to recover from. A poor diet for those in their teens and early twenties now could see a significant rise in the numbers of people suffering fractures and the complications associated with them in the future.
The " clean eating " craze being adopted by young adults , whereby some major food groups such as dairy are cut from diets , is a " ticking time bomb " that could result in weak bones and the development of osteoporosis in young people , warns the National Osteoporosis Society . Fashionable diets associated with celebrities cut out gluten , fat , grains and refined sugars , however , the charity says cutting out major food groups just as their bodies are aging could impact long - term health . Of the 2,000 people surveyed , 20 % of 18 - 24 year olds - a group most likely to get their health information from social media - cut or severely restricted intake of meat or cheese .