Osteoporosis-preventive behaviors and their promotion for young men.

Osteoporosis in men is a major and neglected public health issue. An experimental study with a sample of 37 young men tested an osteoporosis prevention education intervention to alter osteoporosis health beliefs and to increase osteoporosis-preventive behaviors, in order to determine effectiveness and make public health recommendations. After pretest, control and treatment interventions were administered, with the administration of a posttest 2 weeks later. For all osteoporosis health beliefs and osteoporosis-preventive behaviors measured, no group and time interaction was found to be statistically significant. Both groups had low perceived susceptibility to osteoporosis, low to moderate perceived severity of osteoporosis, high perceived benefits of exercise and calcium to prevent osteoporosis, low perceived barriers to exercise and calcium, and moderate to high levels of confidence in self-efficacy for exercise and calcium. Bouts of exercise per week were adequate; however, consumption of good sources of calcium per day appeared to be low. More research is needed for the promotion of osteoporosis prevention in men. Recommendations promoting preventive behaviors for men have been provided.