title: Building healthy bones.
abstract: Environmental factors have an important role in deciding whether the skeleton will achieve the genetically determined peak bone mass. Children's lifestyles have changed over the years; with an increasing trend towards computer and television-related non-physical activities and a greater reliance on convenience foods. Childhood and adolescence are critical periods for building healthy, strong bones, therefore the children's nurse should consider the following advice when discussing bone-related conditions with parents of children of all ages: sufficient Vitamin D intake during infancy, childhood and adolescence, sufficient consumption of milk, cheese and yoghurt products, regular physical, weight-bearing activity, maintenance of a healthy body weight, avoidance of smoking during adolescence and adulthood.
authors.affiliation: Sheffield Children's Hospital.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Silverwood
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001846:Bone Development / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*