In a recent report, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says most kids in the United States are not getting the calcium they need.

We all know calcium does a body good; it's builds strong bones. So does exercise. The AAP says report children in this country are getting too little of both, which increases their risk for osteoporosis and broken bones when they grow up.

It's estimated that 10 million Americans, mostly older women but some men, have this bone-thinning disease. It causes more 1.5 million bone fractures each year.

For seniors, broken bones are very serious, sometimes life-threatening. That's why it's so important for kids to build bone mass while they can.

"The higher your bone mass is when you're 20, the better off you will be when you are age 65," explains Dr. Frank Greer, co-author of the AAP report and a professor of pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin, "because even though you'll lose a percentage of your bone mineral, you’ll start off with a higher value."

Most children can get the recommended calcium they need by eating three "age-appropriate" servings of dairy every day.

Children over the age of 9 need four "age-appropriate" servings.

For children 1 to 3 years old, that means 500mg of calcium a day, kids ages 4 to 8 need 800mg a day; that jumps to 1,300mg a day for those 9 and up.

These are not the numbers you see listed on nutrition labels on food packages; those figures are based on what an adult needs.

The AAP says, "low-fat dairy products including skim milk and low-fat yogurt are preferred sources of calcium. Calcium supplements and non-dairy foods such as calcium-fortified juices and soy products are an alternative, but these products do not offer the benefits of other nutrients, and compliance may be a problem."

The human body needs Vitamin D to absorb and store the calcium it gets. Dr. Greer says children who drink 3 cups of milk a day should get enough Vitamin D. If they're not drinking 3 cups of milk a day, he says, they should take a multi-vitamin tablet with 400 I.U. of Vitamin D. Sunshine helps the skin make Vitamin D. All it takes is 10 to 15 minutes a week in the sun.

Building strong bones requires a good diet and regular exercise - weight-bearing exercise - such as football, basketball, soccer, tennis, or jogging. "You can take all the calcium you want," Dr. Greer says, "but if you don't do any weight-bearing activity, you don't have good bone health."

This week's report from the American Academy of Pediatrics, advises doctors to screen children for calcium intake and bone health three times during childhood: at age 2 - 3, at age 8 - 9 (before the adolescent growth spurt), and during the teen years (when the most bone mass growth takes place).

By the way, whole milk is not recommended until a child reaches his/her first birthday, although the Academy says, yogurt and cheese with modest amounts of added sweeteners can be introduced after 6 months.

For More Information:

Calcium, exercise vital for kids' bones

Calcium requirements for kids

Milk Matters Campaign

Read the Academy's Updated Guidelines for Stronger Bones