A new study suggests that a diet rich in calcium is not enough to keep osteoporosis at bay.

German doctors now say that exercise is just as important as calcium intake. In the report from osteoporosis experts, the doctors theorize that bones, like muscles, require stimulation from physical activity to renew themselves and should be used regularly to avoid osteoporosis, one of the world’s most common chronic diseases.

Building strong bones and muscles is a byproduct of exercise, say the researchers in the report, noting that “exercise also improves muscle control, balance and coordination, and reduces the risk of falling or suffering a fracture during a fall.”

The report was published by the IOF, a non-governmental  organization of scientific experts and national societies that focus on osteoporosis. (Published 10-26-05)