24/09/2026
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“Osteoporosis is a paediatric problem with a geriatric outcome.” — Dr Gabrielle Lyon
That statement really makes you think.
We tend to talk about osteoporosis as something that happens when we get older, particularly to women after menopause.
But bone health starts decades before that.
Childhood and adolescence are critical years for building bone mass. Running, jumping, climbing, sport, resistance exercise and simply being physically active all provide the mechanical loading that developing bones need. Factor into that nutrition too!
When I was young, I rode horses, ice skated, trampolining, gymnastics, athletics, running, pretty much every sport available at school.
I wasn’t thinking about osteoporosis or “building my bones”.
I was just being a kid.
And that’s what concerns me now.
Children are spending far too much time sitting, on screens, with fewer opportunities for the kind of spontaneous physical activity in schools, very little do any after school activities, and playing in the streets/play grounds is a thing if the past.
We need to think beyond what that means for children today and consider the adults those children will become.
Strong muscles and strong bones are not just about aesthetics or sport. They contribute to physical capability, resilience and independence later in life.
And if you’re reading this thinking, “Well, it’s too late for me…”……it isn’t.
We can continue to positively influence our musculoskeletal health throughout adulthood through:
🏋️ progressive resistance training
🚶 regular weight-bearing activity
🥩 adequate protein and nutrition
☀️ appropriate vitamin D and calcium intake
💪 staying physically capable rather than becoming progressively sedentary
We can’t change our childhood.
But we can influence what happens next.
And for our children and grandchildren, perhaps we need to stop thinking of movement simply as “exercise”.
Let them run. Let them jump. Let them climb. Let them get strong.
We’re not only building healthy children.
We’re helping build their 70-year-old bodies.
