If you want to ensure you have strong bones well into old age, it may be best to start when youre young.
A new study conducted by Japanese researchers, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, found that younger people who do weight-bearing exercises are less likely to suffer from osteoporosis when they are older.
Scientists examined the fitness habits of 46 women over the age of 52, looking back at exercise they had done while teenagers.
Women who had taken part in low-impact, weight-bearing exercise tended to have greater bone mineral content in their backs and legs.
None of the participants were currently participating in any weight-bearing exercise but the effect of earlier activity was still noticeable years later.
Even if you have passed your teenage years, it is still possible to help prevent osteoporosis by continuing to consume calcium.
Many women have found that taking nutritional supplements is the best way to make sure they meet the recommended dose of calcium to protect their bones.