The aim of this survey was to determine the relationship between osteoporosis prevention related attitudes, habits in daily life since childhood, medical histories and radius bone mineral density (BMD) by DXA (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry). The subjects of the study were 48 female college students, living in the city of Kitakyushu, Fukuoka. Data on dietary habits, physical activities, osteoporosis prevention related attitudes and a focused history were collected by means of selfadministered questionnaires. These data suggested that:
1) there was a tendency in which students having had, either the traditional Japanese style or the well-balanced style of eating habits since childhood, had a higher BMD. The association between the traditional Japanese style eating habit and BMD was significant.
2) the group with histories of bone fractures or weight-loss more than 3 kg per month until 15 years of age showed a lower BMD than the other group.
3) a significant correlation was noticed between the positive osteoporosis prevention related attitude and the BMD. Most of the osteoporosis prevention related attitudes was associated with calcium intake.
4) the present study revealed that giving young people instruction about habits in childhood and health education in order to stimulate osteoporosis prevention related attitudes would be affective in preventing osteoporosis later on in life.