Apr 04, 2014 06:15 PM EDT By Jaleesa Baulkman, UniversityHerald Reporter

Spending too much time on a computer may lead to lower bone mineral density in adolescents, according to a recent study.

Research presented at the World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases suggests that in boys, higher screen time was adversely associated with bone mineral density at all sites, according to a press release. The same was not seen in girls.

Bone mineral density is a strong predictor of future fracture risk.

"Our findings for girls are intriguing and definitely merit further exploration in other studies and population groups, Anne Winther, lead author of the study, said in a statement. "The findings for boys on the other hand clearly show that sedentary lifestyle during adolescence can impact on bone mineral density and thus compromise the acquisition of peak bone mass. This can have a negative impact in terms of osteoporosis and fracture risk later in life."

For the study, researchers obtained data from 463 girls and 484 boys between the ages of 15 and 18 years. The participants were involved in the Fit Futures study from 2010-2011 which assessed more than 90 percent of all first year high school students in the region.

The associations between bone mineral density and screen time were analyzed in a multiple regression model that included adjustment for age, sexual maturation, BMI, leisure time physical activity, smoking, alcohol, cod liver oil and carbonated drink consumption.

They found that boys spent more time in front of the computer than girls. As well as high screen time being adversely associated to body mass index, in boys screen time was also related to higher body mass index levels. In contrast to the boys, girls who spent four to six hours in front of the computer, had higher bone mineral density than counterparts who spend less than one and a half hour screen time each day -- and this could not be explained by adjustments for the different parameters measured.

According to the International Osteoporosis Foundation, approximately one in five men over the age of fifty worldwide will suffer a fracture as a result of osteoporosis. 

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