American Academy of Pediatrics

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently published its report on bone health and calcium recognizing that kids and teens are not meeting their needs for calcium, which puts them at risk for fractures and osteoporosis. Highlights of the report can be found in this summary and also in this article in the AAP News.

The AAP report recommends that children consume 3 servings of milk, flavored milk, cheese or yogurt a day, choosing lowfat or fat free varieties often (4 servings for teens). Pediatricians are encouraged to assess calcium intake during well child visits at 2-3 years of age, during preadolescence at ages 8-9, and during adolescence when peak calcium accumulation occurs. To help health professionals and parents determine if families are getting enough calcium, National Dairy Council has developed a new calcium assessment tool. Check out the Washington State Dairy Council’s online catalog for lots of nutrition education materials to help kids and teens meet their needs for calcium and dairy foods!