PURPOSE: To evaluate the quantity and severity of bone disorders in children and adolescents with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and to examine the correlation to whole body growth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study 89 bone mineral density measurements were performed and retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Under consideration of growth retardation, over 65.2 % of the patients with Cohn's disease showed a reduced bone mineral density. Osteopenia/Osteoporosis is seldom seen in patients with ulcerative colitis, i. e., only 34.8 % showed a reduction in bone mineral density. Growth retardation and reduced bone mineral density are correlated. Patients with Cohn's disease and a body length below the 25th height percentile showed a reduced bone mineral density in 78.1 % of the cases. Patients with a body length below the 10th height percentile had a reduced bone mineral density in 83.3 % of the cases. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate the value of osteodensitometric measurements in patients with chronic diseases, especially in children and adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease.