Children who live closer to nature have stronger bones – scientists
[ad_1]
Children who live in areas with a lot of green space have significantly stronger bones than their peers who live in urban environments.
In a study published in the journal JAMA Network Open, scientists note that children who have 25% more natural areas within 1,000 meters of their homes have a 65% lower risk of developing very low bone density, writes The Guardian.
To establish this, scientists studied more than 300 children living in urban, suburban and rural areas of the Flanders region (Belgium). Using ultrasound, they measured the bone density of children aged four to six.
The analysis also took into account the child’s age, weight, height, ethnicity, and mother’s education level. No difference between boys and girls was found in the study.
| Photo: lunamarina/Depositphotos |
The researchers also looked at screen time, vitamin supplements and daily dairy consumption to see if they affected the children’s results, but found no significant effect.
Researchers note that slow bone growth at a young age is as crucial to osteoporosis as bone loss due to aging.
Increasing the availability of green spaces for children could help them avoid fractures and osteoporosis in old age, researchers believe.
“The denser the bone mass in childhood, the more resources you have for later life.” – says Professor Tim Navroth from Hasselt University in Belgium.
Previous studies have shown that increasing access to green spaces increases children’s physical activity. Scientists have also discovered numerous advantages for the child’s development: living close to natural areas, in particular, reduces the risk of overweight, lowers blood pressure, helps to increase IQ and improve mental health.
It will be recalled that scientists have established that 9% of teenagers from all over the world use weight loss drugs and dietary supplements. About half of them subsequently use these means throughout their lives.
Read also: 11 myths about folk methods of treatment of SARS: how to help and not harm a child with a cold
[ad_2]
Original Source Link
