Exposure of children to more healthy food environments might optimize childhood bone development through its influence on the quality of the dietary choices.

The study looked at the bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) of 1,107 children at birth and at four and/or six years of age and compared the data to the number of supermarkets, healthy specialty stores and fast food outlets within a child's neighborhood.
After adjustments for other variables, they found that greater access to fast food outlets was associated with lower BMD and BMC in newborns. "More extensive research is needed, but if confirmed in further studies, this would imply that action to improve the food environment could have benefits for childhood bone development," Cooper said.
The results of the study provide some evidence to support the introduction of zoning policies to increase the number of healthier food retailers and to decrease the number of fast food outlets within neighborhoods. The study appeared in the journal Osteoporosis International.
Source-IANS