More than 200 Richmond school children are participating in a UBC
study to determine how growing bones can benefit from increased
levels of physical activity.
The study, led by Human Kinetics Asst. Prof. Heather McKay, involves
210 grades 3 and 4 children aged eight or nine and will determine
to what extent an active lifestyle can contribute to bone density
— an important factor in preventing osteoporosis and brittle bones
later in life.
While a control group of children is continuing with the normal
school physical education program, a larger group is participating
in a curriculum which incorporates higher impact exercises specially
designed for the study by Human Kinetics student Lindsay Waddell.
While McKay’s principal focus is the effect of loading, weight-bearing
or impact exercises on bone density, she is also looking at differences
in diet, and cultural and genetic factors in the Caucasian and Asian
children in the study group.
McKay, whose earlier research at the University of Saskatchewan
looked at genetic factors in bone density and osteoporosis risk
in consecutive generations of Saskatchewan grandmothers, mothers
and daughters, believes present generations of children are growing
up at risk for osteoporosis later in life because of their sedentary
lifestyles, often dominated by television and video games.
The diminished importance of physical education in elementary schools
and the gradual elimination of mandatory physical education programs
in high schools are factors McKay cites as possibly contributing
to the threat of osteoporosis-prone generations.
“It seems that if you take the species at a young age without influence
they will move,” says McKay. “For some reason we seem to be socializing
our children away from movement.”
The children are also surveyed on their diet, particularly calcium
intake, and their normal activities. As well, vertical jumps and
calf circumference are measured to gauge changes in muscle strength.
Bone density is measured using a standard diagnostic tool for osteoporosis
called bone densitometry.
Initial results of the study, which involves UBC researchers from
a number of departments on campus, should be compiled by June.
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