Adults delivered as full-term babies at birth have higher bone mineral density than adults born prematurely with lower birth weight, indicates a Finnish study published in the journal PLoS Medicine and reported on by HealthDay News.

For the study, researchers at the National Institute for Health and Welfare examined the skeletal health of 144 adults ages 18 to 27 who were delivered as premature babies with very low birth weight. The researchers found that these adults might have greater risk for osteoporosis––a bone-thinning disease.

The reason? Because they have much lower bone mineral density, said the institute’s Petteri Hovi, MD.

Although osteoporosis is incurable, the U.S. National Osteoporosis Foundation suggests several steps for prevention: Add weight training to your exercise routine, be sure you get enough vitamin D and calcium, quit smoking, limit alcoholic intake, consult your physician about bone health and take a bone density test if recommended.