* 1. Research osteoporosis

Research osteoporosis. Find out what it means, what causes the condition, the roles calcium and exercise play in the prevention of the condition, and other precautionary measures to take that will decrease your risk of developing osteoporosis. How much calcium should you have in your diet each day? As part of this activity, do the Bone Busters .. Get Away activity sheet. This will introduce you to many issues and help you get started in your research. You can also see how much you already know about osteoporosis. Review this information with other scouts at a troop meeting.

Discuss the Bone Review "" for background information on osteoporosis to assist scouts with questions. Also discuss the Bone Busters .. Get Away questions with the scouts.

* 2. Record your activity choices

Record your physical activity for one week on the "My Activity Record". Research weight bearing exercise to find out what it is, some examples of weight bearing exercise, and the importance of weight bearing exercise in osteoporosis prevention. Look at your activity record and identify the weight-bearing activities that you do on a regular basis. What additional weight-bearing activities can you add to your lifestyle? Demonstrate four weight bearing exercises to your troop and explain what you have learned.

An "Activity Record" master is provided. Refer to "Bone Building Activity" to assist the scout's research. Set aside one troop meeting for demonstrations.

* 3. Talk with your family

Talk to your parents, brothers, sisters, or friends. Ask them about the high-calcium foods they eat and compare their choices to the high-calcium foods you choose. Look at the recommended number of servings of high-calcium foods for their age group on "Bone-Building Foods". Read the "We Will Make an Effort" pledge with your family and friends. See if they will make the pledge - and sign the pledge sheet.

Discuss the "We Will Make an Effort" worksheet with scouts. Have them take the worksheet home to share with family members. The scout should ask if family members and friends will make the pledge. If they will sign the pledge, the scout should be urged to bring back the pledge to share with the troop. The pledge should be brought back home and placed where the family members will see it.

* 4. Talk with parents / grandparents

Ask your parents/grandparents or your friend's grandparents what their activities and diet were when they were younger. Did they eat calcium-rich foods? Did they walk a long way to school as children? Do they have good posture now? Have they broken any bones? You can compare this information with other members of your troop. Have them complete the "Test Your Bones" worksheet. List at least two ways each person can reduce the risk of osteoporosis and discuss it with the family member or friend. Be sure to interview at least one older person (who may already have osteoporosis). See if you can figure out if they have osteoporosis and, if so, why? Was there a lack of calcium? Lack of exercise?

Review the "Test Your Bones" worksheet with the scouts. The questions about missed menstrual periods and menopause might be premature topics for some girls in this age group. Discuss the reasons for the questions.

* 5. Record your food choices

Keep a journal for one week of everything you eat and drink on your "Food Record". Indicate the number of servings and to which food group they belong. Chart them in "Filling My Pyramid" with the extras (candy, sweets) on top. Indicate where you are lacking servings in your pyramid. Circle the high-calcium foods on your food records. Did you meet your requirement for calcium? How can you adjust your diet to make it healthier? Evaluate your eating habits and decide how you could add foods to complete the recommended number of servings in your pyramid.

Provide a "Food Record", "Food Guide Pyramid" and "Filling My Pyramid" to all scouts. Refer to "Bone-Building Foods" to help them identify high-calcium foods. Give the scouts an idea as to what one serving is. One serving from the meat group is the size of an adult's fist. One serving from the milk group is one cup of milk, 1 1/2 ounces of cheese. 1/2 cup of vegetables counts as one serving. In the grain group, one slice of bread or one cup of cereal is one serving. One small apple, one small banana or one box of raisins are all single servings. Make sure they write in the number of servings they eat from each food group. Have scouts write a half page evaluation of their diet.