Common Questions
Does the initiation of exercise in sedentary, premenopausal women reduce their future risk of osteoporosis and fracture?
- There are no observational or intervention studies of premenopausal exercise and future osteoporotic fracture (1).
- Several randomized placebo-controlled trials have shown that premenopausal women who participate in resistance and high-impact exercise interventions have a significant increase in bone mineral density when compared to matched controls (2-4).
- Other studies have shown no difference, and one study found that exercise (coupled with decreased dietary fat) resulting in weight loss may lead to a decline in BMD (5, 6).
Conclusion: An exercise program most likely increases BMD in premenopausal women, and no data exist regarding future risk of fracture.
Regardless, given other benefits of exercise, an exercise program should be recommended to all sedentary adults.