I'm going to get a bone density scan this Friday. Since I've never had it before, the doctor suggested it for me. It is an exam that helps calculate the risk for osteoporosis and fracture.
Talk about fracture, I think of a friend of ours. Their daughter, while in college, suffered a leg injury resulting in her leg bone being shattered into several smaller fragments. I think of a young relative of mine. His leg bones are super strong because his dad made him exercise and play football when he was a teenager.
Exercise and having strong bones in childhood and teenage years lay a solid foundation for bone health throughout our life. Because we build almost all our bone density prior to age 20. In our older adult years, we mostly consume what we accumulate and our bones get weaker over time.
Many teenagers are preoccupied with appearance, especially girls. The look of exquisiteness, delicacy, elegance, dainty and skinny, is high on their agenda. Not being healthy in later life. Their parents' advice on enhancing bone health is often not well-received. By the time they understand the wisdom of the advice, it's too late.
The Chinese saying "不听老人言，吃亏在眼前" (Bù tīng lǎo rén yán, chī kuī zài yǎn qián)-- "When you disregard the advice of the elderly, you will suffer immediate losses." On the other hand, this saying emphasizes that it is a challenging task to make the inexperienced teenagers to see the wisdom of the more experienced elders, to heed the guidance of those with more experience in life, and avoid unnecessary mistakes and setbacks.