The BONES Project
Funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Development, the BONES Project stands for Beat Osteoporosis: Nourish and Exercise Skeletons. This intervention, which took place from 1999-2004, was designed to increase awareness about bone health, physical activity and nutrition among 1400 1st-3rd grade children who attended after-school programs in diverse communities throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Improving Bone Health for Child
Most children fail to consume the recommended amount of calcium and fail to engage in adequate physical activity two factors that influence bone formation. The BONES Project aimed to modify behaviors in young children so that they would develop habits that maximize the formation of strong, dense bones. The BONES Project also evaluated the effect of educating parents and caregivers about nutrition and fitness on health behaviors and knowledge of their children.
Key Aspects of The BONES Project
The project enhanced physical activity and nutrition within the existing structures of after-school programs.
- The BONES Project intervention consisted of lessons and activity modules that are taught 4 days a week, for 30-45 minutes. The lessons and modules are fun and easy to implement, and were continued through two consecutive school years.
- Each component of The BONES Project complements the other, and all three components (the weight-loading physical activity, the nutrition and bone health lessons, and the calcium-rich snack) worked together to improve bone development.
Outcomes of The BONES Project
The BONES Project was a randomized controlled study and is currently in the data analysis and paper submission phase.
For information about the project, please send an email to The Bones Project.
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