Powerful Girls Need Physical Activity: Physical Activity Q & A

What is weight-bearing physical activity?
Any activity in which the body works against gravity, so the feet, legs, or arms are supporting or carrying the body's weight. Resistance activities like weight training* or using resistance bands also build strong bones and can be good alternatives for girls who cannot participate in weight-bearing activity. Look over this list of engaging bone-building physical activities for your daughter.

How does weight-bearing physical activity help build strong bones?
Bones are living tissue. When bones work against gravity, new bone tissue forms, making the bones stronger. Also, weight-bearing physical activity makes muscles stronger, and when muscles push and tug against bones, they make bones even stronger.

Why is weight-bearing physical activity so important for my daughter?
During their pre-teen and teen years, girls build toward their peak bone mass. If your daughter misses this window of opportunity to build strong bones, she may increase her risk for osteoporosis later in life.

How much physical activity do girls need?
Girls should engage in weight-bearing physical activity every day for bone development.

Doesn't my daughter already get enough physical activity?
Maybe not. Not all schools require PE class, and even if they do, participation may not provide girls with enough bone-building physical activity. Although organized sports give girls an important way to get physically active, not all girls get involved. Also, as girls get older, they tend to become less active — only about 25% of high school girls get 30 minutes of moderate activity five or more days per week. If physical activity becomes a part of a girl's daily routine, she'll be more likely to keep those healthy habits when she's older.