Osteoporosis a real risk for Australian women
3 August 2003
Brittle bones and fractures will be the reality faced by many Australian women as they age, yet the reality is yet to sink in, with most believing osteoporosis won’t strike them.
In response to this belief, Osteoporosis Australia and its campaign partner the Australian Dairy Corporation (ADC) have announced their aim for the 10th annual National Healthy Bones Week — 3-9 August 2003 — as turning awareness of osteoporosis into action.
Osteoporosis is the progressive thinning of bone that is most commonly seen with ageing, especially in women after the menopause. It leads to an increased risk of bone fractures, even after little or no impact. 1.9 million Australians have osteoporosis.
‘Thanks to National Healthy Bones Week and other initiatives, we now all know about osteoporosis, but as individuals we’re still reluctant to take measures early that can help to prevent the onset of the disease,’ said Judy Stenmark, chief executive of Osteoporosis Australia.
Ms Stenman added that trying to get younger women to take action now for healthy bones in the future is a challenge.
Two simple steps to reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis are to:
- get regular (weight-bearing and strengthening) exercise; and
- ensure calcium intake covers the recommended 3 serves of dairy foods every day.
‘Sadly, the majority of women diagnosed with osteoporosis wish they had understood the risk earlier and taken preventive action,’ said Ms Stenmark.
A study undertaken by the ADC in 2003, which looked at the link between consumer attitudes and intentions and food consumption behaviour, showed that losing or maintaining weight were the main concerns for about 40 per cent of women.
Despite more than 90 per cent of respondents believing that dairy foods were an essential part of a healthy diet … 43 per cent believed that eating dairy foods translated into weight gain.
Michele Pink, an ADC dietitian, said that people often overestimated the fat content of dairy foods.
‘What many women may not understand is that consuming low-fat dairy foods and undertaking regular exercise will help them to manage weight and also help reduce their risk of disease,’ she said.
Ms Pink explained that cutting out dairy foods because they are considered fattening may put bone health at risk and deprive the body of other essential nutrients.
‘Exercise and a healthy balanced diet including 3 serves of calcium-rich dairy foods every day is an inexpensive commitment to health and real beauty from within,’ said Ms Pink.
Last Reviewed: 04 August 2003
