Source
Division of Behavioral Pediatrics and Psychology, Department of Pediatrics, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Cleveland, OH 44106-6038, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
To provide 1-year outcomes for a randomized controlled trial of a behavioral-educational intervention for the primary prevention of osteoporosis among 247 preadolescent girls.
METHODS:
Girl Scout troops were randomly assigned to one of two intervention groups-a group comprising girls only (n = 73) and girls with their mothers (n = 94)-and a healthy-lifestyles control group (n = 80). Multilevel (hierarchical) models were employed to account for clustering of girls within troops.
RESULTS:
Among girls who met the recommended levels of Ca at baseline, those in the intervention were significantly more likely to maintain or improve their intake at follow-up compared to controls. No significant group differences were found for changes in WBPA.
CONCLUSIONS:
A behavioral intervention for the primary prevention of osteoporosis holds promise for maintaining adequate Ca intake among preadolescent females.