Bone Mineral Density and Factors influencing Bone Mineral Density in College Women

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the levels of bone mineral density (BMD) and to explain the factors influencing BMD among female college students in Korea. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 144 college women. Lifestyle factors were determined by self-report questionnaire. Body composition was measured by body composition analyzer and bone mineral density was measured by ultrasound bone densitometry. Data were analyzed using SPSS for windows, version 19.0. RESULTS: The mean BMD at calcaneus site was 0.56 g/cm2 (mean T-score=-0.22). The incidence of osteopenia was 21.5%. Factors predicting BMD were menarche age (r=-.22, p=.009) and height (r=-.18, p=.030) with 7% of explained variance. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that health care professionals need to provide young women with program that is intended to affect their intention toward osteoporosis preventive behavior change.