International symposium on adolescent bone health

Posted September 11, 1997


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 8, 1997
97-09-03-PE

Adolescent bone health topic of symposium

Brittle bones can seriously impair an older person?s mobility and quality
of life. What many teenagers do not understand is that their actions
during adolescence can have a great impact on the strength of their
bones in later life.

The College of Physical Education at the University of Saskatchewan will
host an international symposium on adolescent bone health on
September 15, 1997. Participants will discuss the impact of such factors
as exercise, calcium intake, water fluoridation, and genetics.

The Pediatric Bone Group at the University of Saskatchewan is in the
seventh year of a longitudinal study of bone mineral development in
children. This is the only study of its kind in the world, and the data being
gathered by the Group is being used by researchers from around the
globe. The Group is multidisciplinary and includes researchers from
Physical Education, Nutrition and Dietetics, and Nuclear Medicine.

Much of the research up to this point has focused on treating and coping
with osteoporosis, says College of Physical Education Dean Bob
Faulkner. Our intent is to find out what we can do to avoid osteoporosis.
To do that we are looking at how bones develop in children and what
effect factors such as diet and exercise have on this development.

The conference, which is sponsored by Merck Frosst, will take place at
the Delta Bessborough Hotel.

For more information please contact:

Bob Faulkner, Dean or Don Bailey, Professor
College of Physical Education College of Physical Education
University of Saskatchewan University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-6465 Tel: (306) 966-6994

or

Shawn Davison
College of Physical Education
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-6769