A Parent’s Guide to 

Girls’ Bone Health

Act Now

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Office on Women’s Health

www.bestbonesforever.gov/parents
This booklet is for you, but the Best Bones Forever! campaign is for her!

Best Bones Forever! is a national bone health campaign aimed at helping 

girls ages 9-14 understand that now is the time to build strong bones 

for life. The campaign, developed by the U.S. Department of Health 

and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health, has materials and a 

Web site designed just for girls at www.bestbonesforever.gov. You can 

learn more at the campaign’s Web site for parents at 

www.bestbonesforever.gov/parents.
1

What’s Inside

Support your daughter’s bones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 3

The numbers she needs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 5

Parents for powerful bones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 6

Protect your bones too . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 8

Bone bandits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 10

Get moving! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 12

Calcium counts! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14

Sources of calcium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 16

What does 1,300 mg of calcium look like? . . . . . . . . . Page 17

Food label facts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 18

What’s the big deal about vitamin D? . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 19

Serve a bone-healthy breakfast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 20

Quick and easy smoothies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 22

Learn more . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 24

Glossary (bold words are listed) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 26
Between ages 9-18, your 

daughter is in her key bonebuilding years. By age 18, 

she will have built most of 

her bone mass.1 That means 

right now is the best time 

to give her the support she 

needs to build strong bones.

Less than one in 10 girls gets the 

calcium she needs each day.2

 As 

girls get older, they tend to get 

less calcium and physical activity—two important things they 

need to build strong bones. 

2
3

Support Your Daughter’s Bones

Take these steps to build and maintain strong, healthy bones:

For You...

Be a good role model for your family.

Know your own risk factors for osteoporosis.

Talk to your doctor about your bone health.

For Your Daughter...

Make being healthy a part of your family routine.

Help her make healthy food choices, including 

foods high in calcium and vitamin D.

Help her get one hour of physical activity daily, 

including bone-strengthening activities at least 

three days per week.
4
5

The Numbers She Needs

1,300

The amount in milligrams (mg) of calcium your daughter 

needs every day.3

 During her key bone-building years, she 

needs more foods with calcium, like low-fat or fat-free milk 

and yogurt, green leafy vegetables, and calcium-fortified

orange juice, than she did when she was younger.* Make 

sure she also eats more foods with vitamin D. Most milk 

and some yogurt and cereals are fortified with vitamin D. 

60

The number of minutes of physical activity your daughter 

needs each day.4

 Make sure she chooses bone-strengthening activities, like running and jumping rope, at least three 

days per week to help build strong bones.5

* Shoot for 3 a day of low-fat or fat-free milk, yogurt, and 

cheese, and add other foods with calcium and vitamin D.
6

Parents for Powerful Bones

Many parents feel they have little control over what their 

kids eat and how much physical activity they get when 

they are away from home. But, many girls say their parents 

play a big role in the health choices they make. 

So how do you get your daughter to care about 

her bones? 

•	 Package it with good health. Help your daughter 

choose healthy foods, including those with calcium and 

vitamin D, and get 60 minutes of physical activity (including activities like running and jumping) a day as part 

of a healthy lifestyle—and you will help her build strong 

bones too. 

•	 Be a role model. Set a good example for your 

family by making healthy food choices and being physically active. 

•	 Know your risk (and hers). If you are at risk for osteoporosis (see page 8), your daughter might be too. Get 

the facts and take steps to protect and build strong 

bones together. 
7

Looking at osteoporosis 

Osteoporosis affects an estimated 8 million American women, 

but men are also at risk for the disease. About 2 million American 

men have osteoporosis and 12 million more are at risk.6

Women are more likely to get the disease because they lose 

about 20 percent of their bone mass in the years after menopause.

7

 Losing bone mass can lead to weaker bones that are 

fragile and easy to break. 

Osteoporosis can also affect younger people. Girls with anorexia 

nervosa are at the highest risk. Low body weight can cause 

the body to stop making estrogen, which can lead to the loss of 

menstrual periods and low bone density.
8

Protect Your Bones Too

You’re never too old—or too young—to protect and improve the health of your bones. 

Follow these steps for strong, healthy bones.

1.	 Know your risk factors for osteoporosis.

•	 Female

•	 Older age

•	 Family or personal history of osteoporosis or 

broken bones

•	 Small and thin body

•	 Caucasian or Asian

•	 A diet low in calcium

and vitamin D

•	 Inactive lifestyle

•	 Smoking

•	 Alcohol abuse

•	 Certain medications

•	 Certain diseases or conditions such as Crohn’s 

disease or anorexia 

nervosa

Learn more about your risk factors at www.nof.org.

2. Talk to your 

doctor about your 

bone health.

•	 If you have one or

more risk factors, get 

a test to measure 

your bone density.

•	 Repeat the test over

time to see if your 

bone density has 

changed.
9

3. Get enough calcium each day.

•	 Choose foods high in calcium like low-fat or fat-free

milk and yogurt and calcium-fortified orange juice.

•	 If you aren’t sure if you are getting enough calcium,

talk to your doctor. He or she might recommend 

a dietary supplement.

4. Get your vitamin D.

•	 Vitamin D helps the body use calcium.

•	 Vitamin D is usually added to milk and can be found in

fatty fish such as tuna, salmon, or mackerel. Sunlight is 

also a source of vitamin D.

•	 Ask your doctor if you need a simple blood test that

can tell if you are getting enough vitamin D or if you 

need a supplement. (See page 19 to learn how much 

calcium and vitamin D is needed at every age. )

5. Work your bones.

•	 Adults need at least 21⁄2 hours of physical activity per

week. This can be done 10 minutes at a time.8

•	 Walking or running, jumping rope, and lifting weights

are great exercises for your bones.

NOTE: These steps are for adults only. In this booklet, you’ll also 

learn what pre-teen and teen girls need to build strong bones and 

help prevent osteoporosis. 
10

Bone Bandits

These bone bandits may put your daughter at risk 

for osteoporosis later in life.

•	 Soda—For many girls soda replaces milk (and the 

important calcium and vitamin D that comes with it) in 

their diets, and can damage teeth enamel (see page 22 

to learn more).9

 Encourage your daughter to choose 

low-fat or fat-free milk; calcium-fortified orange 

juice or soy drink; or water.
11

•	 Screen time—Too much time in front of the TV or computer means less time for physical activity. Limit your 

child’s screen time to less than two hours 

a day.10

•	 Alcoholic drinks—There are a lot of dangers of underage drinking—including damage to your child’s 

bones. Alcohol reduces the ability of the body’s cells to 

make bone. Research shows that the effects of heavy

alcohol abuse on bones cannot be reversed.11 Talk to 

your daughter about the harmful effects of alcoholic 

drinks on growing bones and be a good role model.

•	 Smoking—The nicotine and toxins in cigarettes destroy 

the bone-building cells in the body and can prevent 

girls from reaching peak bone mass. Some girls start 

smoking as a way to lose weight. Teach your daughter 

the harmful effects of smoking and encourage her to 

be physically active, which can help her maintain a 

healthy weight.
12

Get Moving! 

Regular physical activity has many benefits:

•	 Helps prevent weight gain, type 2 diabetes, heart 

disease, and high cholesterol

•	 Helps build strength and self-confidence

•	 Provides chances to be with friends and have fun

Of course, it helps build strong bones, too! 

Girls need to get an hour of physical activity every day including bone-strengthening activities at least three times a 

week. Have your daughter choose the bone-strengthening 

activities she likes best. 

Here are some examples:

Basketball

Dancing

Hiking

Jogging

Jumping rope

Karate

Running

Soccer 

Tennis

Volleyball

Walking

Weight lifting

Although good for your child’s health, biking and swimming are not the best activities for building strong bones. 

If you bike often as a family or your child is on a swim team, 

make sure she does plenty of bone-strengthening activities too (high-impact ones like jumping rope or dancing are 

best).

What if she has a physical disability?

Activities that help build bone strength are 

key for children with physical disabilities. 

If your daughter has a disability that makes 

it hard for her to do bone-strengthening 

activities, talk to her doctor about what 

she can do to help build her bones.
13

Help your daughter find an activity 

that’s right for her

Team sports like cheerleading, basketball, and 

soccer are great ways to build bones, make friends, 

and have fun, but they’re not for everyone. If your 

daughter is not into team sports, show her bonestrengthening activities she can do at home, such 

as hopscotch, dancing, and jumping rope.

Need some new ideas? Send your daughter to 

www.bestbonesforever.gov for fun, bonebuilding activities she can do alone or 

with friends.
14

Calcium Counts!

During the key bone-building years, your daughter needs 

1,300 milligrams (mg) of calcium every day. Milk and milk 

products are excellent sources of calcium. Just one serving 

of low-fat or fat-free milk (1 cup) has about 300 mg—about 

a quarter of the calcium she needs every day! 

Help your daughter get more calcium: 

•	 Serve a low-fat or fat-free yogurt parfait with her favorite

fruit and some granola. 

•	 Make a snack of low-fat or fat-free string cheese wrapped

in calcium-fortified, whole-grain tortillas.

•	 Add low-fat or fat-free cheese to pasta or salads.

Skim the fat. Some girls don’t like milk and milk products 

because they believe they will make them gain weight. 

Make sure your daughter knows that low-fat and fat-free 

milk and milk products are not likely to cause weight gain. 

Plus, these contain the same nutrients and even more calcium than whole milk.

Try other foods with calcium. Milk, yogurt, and cheese 

aren’t the only choices. Check out the chart on page 16 for 

others, including calcium-fortified orange juice and cereal. 

Mix it up. If your daughter turns up 

her nose at new foods like bok choy

and tofu, don’t give up. Instead, mix 

new foods with familiar ones:

•	 Mix in calcium-fortified tofu with

low-fat or fat-free ricotta cheese 

in lasagna.

•	 Mix bok choy into a stir fry.
15

Can’t drink milk? If milk or milk products give your daughter an upset stomach or make her feel bloated, talk to her 

doctor. She may be lactose intolerant. Try low-fat or fatfree lactose-reduced milk or a calcium-fortified soy drink 

instead. They have the same amount of calcium as regular 

milk and taste great too.
16

Sources of Calcium

Remember: Your daughter needs 1,300 milligrams (mg) of calcium every day. 

Food Portion Milligrams

Milk 

Fat free 1 cup 306

Lactose reduced, fat free* 1 cup 300

1% low fat 1 cup 290

Yogurt

Plain, fat free 8 ounces 452

Fruit, low fat 8 ounces 345

Frozen yogurt, vanilla, soft serve** 1⁄2 cup 103

Cheese

Pasteurized process Swiss 2 ounces 438

Ricotta, part skim 1⁄2 cup 335

Pasteurized process American 2 ounces 323

Mozzarella, part skim 1.5 ounce 311

Fortified foods

Soy drink with added calcium 1 cup 368

Orange juice with added calcium* 1 cup 300

Tofu with added calcium 1⁄2 cup 253

Cereal with added calcium 1 ounce 236-1043

Cereal bar with added calcium 1 bar 200

Bread with added calcium* 1 slice 100

Whole-grain tortilla with added calcium** 1 tortilla 40

Vegetables 

Collards, cooked from frozen 1⁄2 cup 178

Spinach, cooked from frozen 1⁄2 cup 146

Kale, cooked from frozen 1⁄2 cup 90

Bok choy (Chinese cabbage), cooked from fresh 1⁄2 cup 79

Broccoli, cooked or fresh* 1 cup 61

Other foods 

Soybeans, green, cooked 1⁄2 cup 130

White beans, canned 1⁄2 cup 96

Almonds, dry roasted** 1 ounce 75

The information in this chart comes from the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, developed by the 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

*Calcium information comes from manufacturers and can vary. 

**Information is from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Nutrient Database for Standard 

Reference.
17

What Does 1,300 mg of 

Calcium Look Like?

+ + +

1 cup fortified 

orange juice 

300 mg calcium

8 ounces plain, 

fat-free yogurt 

452 mg calcium

2 fortified, whole-grain 

tortillas with 2 ounces 

American cheese

403 mg calcium

=1,301 mg calcium

pasta with 1⁄2 cup 

spinach

146 mg calcium

OR

+ +

1 ounce fortified 

cereal with 1 cup 

fat-free milk

542 mg calcium

2 slices fortified 

bread with 2 ounces 

American cheese

523 mg calcium

1⁄2 cup fortified tofu 

and 1 cup broccoli 

314 mg calcium

=1,379 mg calcium
Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 cup (228g)

Servings Per Container 2

Amount Per Serving

Calories 250 Calories from Fat 110

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 18%

Saturated Fat 3g 15%

Trans Fat 3g

Cholesterol

700mg

10%

12g

Sodium 470mg 20%

Potassium

470mg

20%

Total Carbohydrate 31g 10%

Dietary Fiber 0g 0%

Sugars 5g

Protein 5g

Vitamin A

Vitamin C

Calcium

Iron

4%

2%

20%

4%

Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs:*

Calories:

Less than

Less than

Less than

Less than

2,000

65g

20g

300mg

2,400mg

300g

25g

2,500

80g

25g

300mg

2,400mg

375g

30g

Total Fat

 Sat Fat

Cholesterol

Sodium

Total Carbohydrate

 Dietary Fiber

Calcium is listed as 

percent DV, or a percentage of the Daily 

Value. Adults need 

100 percent DV for 

calcium each day, 

but pre-teen and 

teen girls need 130 

percent. Hint: 30 

percent DV equals 

300 milligrams. 

18

Food Label Facts

The amount of nutrients in a food is shown in one of two ways: in 

grams(or milligrams) or as a percentage of the Daily Value (DV)—

and these are based on an adult’s need only. 

When you are choosing foods based on the percent Daily Value,

remember this: 5 percent DV or lessislow, while 20 percent DV

or more is high. 

Check food labels to find out which foods are high in calcium and determine other key nutrients your family needs. 
19

What’s the Big Deal About 

Vitamin D?

Calcium can’t do its job without vitamin D. Vitamin D helps

the body absorb the calcium it gets from food.

The milk you buy at the store is most likely fortified with 

vitamin D (about 100 international units (IU) per one-cup 

serving). You can also get vitamin D from sunlight as well 

as the following foods: 

•	 Salmon (360 IU in a

3.5-ounce serving) 

•	 Tuna fish in oil (200 IU in a

3-ounce can)

•	 Fortified cereal (40 IU per

serving)

Note that other milk-based products 

such as cheese might not be fortified 

with vitamin D. 

How much calcium and vitamin D do you need? 

Children & Adolescents Calcium	(Daily) Vitamin D (Daily)	 	

1-3 years 700mg 600 IU

4-8 years 1,000mg 600 IU

9-18 years 1,300mg 600 IU

Adult Women & Men Calcium	(Daily) Vitamin D (Daily)	 	

19-50 years 1,000mg 600 IU

Men 51-70 years 1,000mg 600 IU

Women 51-70 years 1,200mg 600 IU

Adults 71 and older 1,200mg 800 IU

NOTE: This chart is from the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies and 

the National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Talk to your doctor 

and your child’s doctor about how much calcium and vitamin D your family needs. 
20

Serve a Bone-Healthy Breakfast

Eating a healthy breakfast can give your daughter energy, 

help her stay alert during the day, and may help prevent 

weight gain. It’s also a great time to include foods with 

calcium in her diet. 

Try one of these ideas to start her day off right: 

•	 Calcium-fortified cereal or oatmeal with low-fat or

fat-free milk or calcium-fortified soy drink 

•	 Calcium-fortified orange juice

•	 Cereal bar with added calcium

•	 Smoothie with low-fat or fat-free yogurt and milk

and fruit

•	 Calcium-fortified, whole-grain tortilla with melted

low-fat or fat-free cheese

•	 Low-fat or fat-free yogurt mixed with granola
21
22

Quick and Easy Smoothies 

Try one of these smoothies for a quick, calcium-rich boost 

to your daughter’s breakfast! Each serving has more than 

300mg of calcium, fewer than 150 calories, and at least 50 

IU of vitamin D.

Berry Berry Good Smoothie 

Ingredients:

1 cup fat-free milk

8 ounces fat-free vanilla yogurt

4 large strawberries (or 1 cup 

frozen strawberries)

1 small banana cut up

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

Combine ingredients in a 

blender and blend for 1 minute. 

Makes 2 servings.

Soy Sensation Smoothie

Ingredients:

1 cup frozen blueberries

1 cup frozen strawberries

1 cup plain calcium- and vitamin 

D-fortified soy drink

8 ounces low-fat or fat-free vanilla yogurt or soy yogurt

Instructions:

Combine ingredients in a blender and blend for 1 minute.

Makes 2 servings.

Help her have a healthy smile

Most girls know that brushing and flossing their teeth keeps them 

healthy. But there’s one more ingredient for a nice 

smile that girls may not think about: calcium. 

If your daughter prefers soda to milk, she could 

be hurting her teeth. Sugar from soda—or fruit 

juices—can harm the tooth’s enamel, which is 

made up mostly of calcium. The stronger the 

enamel is, the better it can fight tooth decay, which 

can damage teeth.12

Encourage your daughter to get the calcium she 

needs every day for her bones—and her smile.
23

Remember, take these steps to build 

and maintain strong, healthy bones:

For You...

Be a good role model for your family.

Know your own risk factors for osteoporosis.

Talk to your doctor about your bone health.

For Your Daughter...

Make being healthy a part of your 

family routine.

Help her make healthy food choices, 

including foods high in calcium and 

vitamin D.

Help her get one hour of physical activity daily, including bone-strengthening activities at least three days per 

week.
24

Learn More 

Learn more about how to help support your daughter’s 

bones. Check out these resources for helpful tips, recipes, 

and fun physical activities. 

Resources for Parents

Alliance for a Healthier Generation for helpful tips and activities to get your child moving and eating healthy. 

www.healthiergeneration.org/parents.aspx •

info@healthiergeneration.org

American Academy of Pediatrics Parenting Corner for timely 

tips and to find a pediatrician near you.

www.aap.org/parents.html • 1-847-434-4000

 Best Bones Forever! Campaign to learn more about how to 

help your daughter build strong bones. 

www.bestbonesforever.gov/parents • 

1-800-994-9662 or TDD: 1-888-220-5446

 BodyWorks Program to help your family make small 

changes to improve your health. 

www.womenshealth.gov/bodyworks • 

1-800-994-9662 or TDD: 1-888-220-5446

Disabled Sports USA to learn more about a youth mentoring 

program to help children with disabilities get active.

www.dsusa.org • 1-240-268-1250

National Center on Physical Activity and Disability for 

a state-by-state listing of camps and programs for people 

with disabilities.

www.ncpad.org • 1-800-900-8086

National Eating Disorders Association to learn more about 

anorexia nervosa and its connection with bone health as well as 

other eating disorders. 

www.nationaleatingdisorders.org • 1-800-931-2237 
25

 National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and 

Skin Diseases for helpful tips on how to keep your kids’ 

bones healthy.

www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/bone/Bone_Health/Juvenile/default.asp • 1-877-22-NIAMS (1-877-226-4267)

National Osteoporosis Foundation for more information on 

how to have lifelong bone health and prevent osteoporosis.

www.nof.org • 1-800-231-4222

For an osteoporosis risk factor quiz, visit 

www.strongwomenstandtall.org. 

The Medical Foundation for recipes with calcium and a calculator to help you track how much your daughter is getting each 

day.

www.fightosteonow.org • 1-617-451-0049

 U.S. Department of Agriculture to use MyPyramid to track 

your eating and physical activity habits and learn the basics of a 

healthy eating plan.

www.mypyramid.gov • 1-888-7-PYRAMID (1-888-779-7264)

Resources for Girls

 Best Bones Forever! Campaign to learn more about building strong bones.

www.bestbonesforever.gov • 1-800-994-9662 or

TDD: 1-888-220-5446

 Milk Matters Campaign for information on calcium and fun 

games for tweens and teens.

www.nichd.nih.gov/milk • 1-800-370-2943

 President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports to 

take the President’s Challenge. Your daughter can do it alone or 

compete against friends and family members.

www.presidentschallenge.org • 1-800-258-8146

= This Web site or organization is from the U.S. government.
26

Glossary

Anorexia nervosa (an-uh-REK-see-uh nur-VOH-suh)—

serious eating disorder in which the person fears weight 

gain and may starve himself or herself

Bok choy (BOK-choi)—green, leafy vegetable, also called 

Chinese cabbage

Bone density (BOHN DEN-si-tee)—how solid and strong 

your bones are on the inside

Bone mass (BOHN MAS)—bone strength and density

Bone strengthening activity (BOHN STREN(K)-then-ing

ak-TIV-i-tee)—any activity that produces a force on the 

bones and promotes bone growth and strength. This force 

is produced most often by impact on the ground in activities like running and jumping.

Calorie (CAL-uh-ree)—a unit used to indicate the fuel or 

energy value of food

Cholesterol (kuh-LES-tuh-rohl)—soft substance the body 

makes and gets from food; too much cholesterol can clog 

your arteries and lead to heart disease

Dietary Supplement (DAHY-i-ter-ee SUHP-luh-muhnt)—

a product taken by mouth that contains one or more ingredients (like vitamin D)

Enamel (i-NAM-uhl)—the hard tissue that covers the tooth 

and is made up mostly of calcium

Fortified (FAWR-tuh-fhayd)—applies to foods that have 

added nutrients

Heart disease (HAHRT di-ZEEZ)—a problem with the 

heart caused by high cholesterol, poor diet, smoking, or a 

combination of things
27

Lactose intolerant (LAK-tohs in-TOL-er-uhns)—when the 

body cannot easily digest lactose (a type of natural sugar 

found in dairy products)

Menopause (MEN-uh-pawz)—occurs when the menstrual 

cycle permanently ends, usually by the late 50s 

Osteoporosis (os-tee-oh-puh-ROH-sis)—a disease that 

causes bones to become weak and break easily

Peak bone mass (PEEK BOHN MAS)—the greatest 

amount of bone tissue that a person will have in his or 

her life

Tofu (TOH-foo)—an Asian food made from soybeans

Type 2 diabetes (TAHYP TOO dahy-uh-BEE-teez)—the 

most common form of diabetes; in type 2, the body either 

does not make enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin, which is a hormone that helps change sugar and food 

into the energy needed to live 
28

End Notes

1 National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. “Osteoporosis: Peak Bone Mass in Women.” www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/

Osteoporosis/bone_mass.asp. Accessed April 23, 2008. 

2 National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Child Health and Human 

Development, Milk Matters campaign. “Why Are the Tween and Teen Years 

So Critical?” www.nichd.nih.gov/milk/prob/critical.cfm. Accessed April 23, 

2008. 

3

	 Standing Committee on the Scientific Evaluation of Dietary Reference

Intakes, Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine. Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium, Phosphorous, Magnesium, Vitamin D, and Fluoride. National 

Academy of Sciences, 1997. www.iom.edu/Object.File/Master/21/372/0.pdf. 

Accessed March 7, 2008. 

4 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of 

Agriculture. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2005. 6th Edition, Washington, 

DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, January 2005. 

5 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Physical Activity Guidelines 

for Americans, 2008. www.health.gov/paguidelines. Accessed 

October 7, 2008. 

6 National Osteoporosis Foundation. “America’s Bone Health: The State of 

Osteoporosis and Low Bone Mass.” www.nof.org/advocacy/prevalence/. Accessed June 20, 2008.

7 National Osteoporosis Foundation. “Fast Facts on Osteoporosis.” www.nof.

org/osteoporosis/diseasefacts.htm. Accessed June 20, 2008. 

8 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2008. Press release. www.hhs.gov/news/

press/2008pres/10/20081007a.html. Accessed October 7, 2008. 

9 ADA Division of Communications. “Eating Habits That Can Harm Teeth.” Journal of the American Dental Association. 2002 Dec; 133 (12): 1739. www.jada.

ada.org/cgi/content/full/133/12/1739. Accessed June 20, 2008. 

10	 Expert Committee Recommendations on the Assessment, Prevention, and

Treatment of Child and Adolescent Overweight and Obesity. June 6, 2007. 

www.aap.org/obesity/AMA_ped_obesity_recs.pdf. Accessed June 29, 2008. 

11 H. Wayne Sampson, PhD. “Alcohol’s Harmful Effects on Bone.” Alcohol Health 

& Research World. 1998. Vol. 22 (3). www.niaaa.nih.gov/. Accessed June 20,

2008. 

12 ADA Division of Communications. “Eating Habits That Can Harm Teeth.” Journal of the American Dental Association. 2002 Dec; 133 (12): 1739. www.jada.

ada.org/cgi/content/full/133/12/1739. Accessed June 20, 2008.
29

You play an important role in your daughter’s health. The BodyWorks

program can help. 

BodyWorks is a parent-focused adolescent obesity prevention program 

designed to help families make small changes over time to improve 

their health. Go to www.womenshealth.gov/bodyworks to find a program in your area. 
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Office on Women’s Health

200 Independence Avenue, SW, Room 712E

Washington, DC 20201

1-800-994-9662

6/16/09