Osteoporosis is a chronic disease that directly affects the growth of bone mass. On the genetic side, individuals are born with this disorder because it is programmed within their DNA. However, lifestyle factors like daily exercise, sufficient intake of calcium, limiting alcohol consumption, and even maintaining a healthy diet can help decrease the risk of being diagnosed later on in life. To increase bone mass and prevent osteoporosis in female adolescents, researchers presume that regular exercise and daily consumption of calcium could help resolve this recurring issue in older women. Various low fat or fat-free products can be eaten to increase calcium levels for stronger bone mass also to limit the chemical dioxin from entering the bloodstream, which can further cause greater problems. Abstaining from increased consumption of caffeinated beverages that contain harmful compounds called phosphorous, calcium absorption becomes easier, thus builds bone mass. In addition, nonstrenuous, daily physical activity can be performed to achieve healthy bones. This includes simple 30-minute workouts, small strolls, and short jogs a few times a week. Females are more likely to be diagnosed with this prevailing illness because women over the years tend to refrain from dairy, for it is considered high in fats. This issue stems from the fact that women are so concerned with weight loss that they tend to neglect the vital, nutritional supplements that come with these calcium-infused meals. Females become so involved in losing weight that skipping meals become a habit. Overall, these issues need to be addressed in order to guide young females to better their lifestyle choices and to decrease the future risk of osteoporosis.
Following the study on the prevention of osteoporosis, data from a questionnaire was collected from 293 high school females ranging from ages 14-19 years concerning the matters of low calcium intake, including unhealthy diets, weight loss, reduced physical activity, and skipping meals completely. The questions asked the participants to answer the perceptions of weight loss or gain, calcium intake, and regular exercise. Each category summarized the general mentions of this study through Likert Scales that were answered by the participants through devised questions. To obtain collective data on calcium intake, the participants formulated their answers on what they consumed in terms of foods and drinks through the predicted variables of meal skipping, attempting to lose weight, and perceptions on the barriers of calcium intake. Data on physical activity was collected through self-reports of participants on how many hours and days of various exercises were performed through variables of perceptions of benefits and barriers to exercise, weight loss, maintaining weight loss, and perception of one’s weight to another. Gathering all the data, concluding results indicated that on average, participants received 450.5 mg of calcium versus the highest intake of 1,916 mg of calcium daily, while the normal intake is about 1,300 mg. On the other hand, the average amount of exercise performed weekly was 6.1 hours versus the highest amount of 30 hours of physical exercise. With the normal number of hours of physical activity being 7 hours a week, this comes to show how much exercise was performed to maintain weight loss.
Conclusively, the resulting data proved that young females during their teen years, in which physiological bone growth is significant to reduce the future occurrence of the ailing disease of osteoporosis, were inconsistent with regular exercise and healthy diets. Calcium intake was inadequately neglected, due to specific matters dealing with the participant’s perceptions on body image and weight loss or gain. Young females choose to lose dietary supplements and nutritional values in order to maintain weight loss. Promoting a new healthy lifestyle would open the eyes of these young individuals to seek a better future by preventing osteoporosis. Health professionals spread the word to reach and encourage them to choose healthier choices of foods, such as cheese, yogurt, spinach, or nuts that are high in calcium levels. They also advocate weekly exercises to promote stronger bones and muscles because through moderate physical activity bone mass increases, which supplies strength and reduces fractures from the unhealthy and brittle bones of old age.
This study was conducted to introduce the concept of pushing for healthier lifestyle choices to prevent the diagnosis of osteoporosis in geriatric women, however, it fails in being inclusive because it neglects prevention in males. It demonstrates collective data through questionnaires that can easily be inaccurately answered. The researchers can’t know for sure the reliability of the concluded data that was obtained from these participants. This prevention study sufficiently describes all the ways of obtaining calcium intake through healthy foods, as well as regular and consistent exercises that increase bone mass. It further explains the importance of teaching female adolescence so that they develop stronger bones, thus reducing the risk of a future diagnosis of osteoporosis. When discussing the finding results, the researchers behind the study admit that the study is lacking investigation and encourages replicated researchers. The beginning of the study mentions alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking disorders that can potentially decrease bone mass, thus weakening bones, however, the resulting study fails to accomplish relativity to the research. For the most part, this research persuasively urges young females to address these issues and resolve them before it’s too late.