The study by Hawley Almstedt and Christine M. Snow, professors of natural science at the Loyola Marymount University (LMU) and Oregon State University, respectively, is the first to analyze bone density and oral contraceptives use among 18-25 year old women.
It is critical for women to develop strong bone mass during their adolescence, according to the LMU website. Although women's peak bone development occurs at the age of 16, women's bones are still developing during their late teens and early twenties.
Oral contraceptives create a barrier in young women's bodies, affecting their ability to fully develop high bone mass, the study said, adding that women who take birth control pills between 18 and 25 will have lower bone density than those women who do not take the pill.
Osteoporosis, a skeletal disease, affects 44 million people in the United States, 80 percent of them women. Along with exercise and proper nutrition, one of the best ways to prevent osteoporosis is to for the body to build high bone mass during youth.
