A BMI-type chart is needed to help detect poor bone density in children, experts have claimed, following research from the Children of the 90s study.
Researchers found children from more privileged backgrounds, who are generally taller and slimmer than poorer children, are at greater risk of osteoporosis.
Lead researcher Dr Emma Clark, a Wellcome Trust clinical research fellow, said this could be because taller and leaner children developed slimmer bones that were more prone to snapping.
She said more research was needed to work out the range of children's bone mass so it could be detected if it was below a prescribed amount.
This could be a similar style to body mass index charts, which indicate if children are obese.
