Australia’s bone health experts have united today to plead with Australians to act now to make their bones stronger, warning that osteoporosis is emerging as a major national health burden.
The approaching crisis, driven by an ageing population and compounded by a lack of awareness, has prompted leading doctors, surgeons, researchers, exercise physiologists and dietitians to join forces for Healthy Bones Action Week (August 4 – 10, 2014) and plead for adults of all ages to urgently build stronger bones or risk osteoporosis in later life.
The nationwide call comes as a survey suggests many Australian women might be ignoring the time bomb ticking inside them, with more women concerned about weight gain or external signs of ageing such as fine lines and wrinkles than taking simple steps to reduce the chances of losing bone density.
Austin Health Endocrinologist Professor Ego Seeman, who helped launch the first Healthy Bones Action Week 20 years ago, said osteoporosis is often called “the silent thief” because bone loss occurs without symptoms. While there have been some advances over the past 20 years, it is one of the least-discussed, under-diagnosed and under-treated diseases in Australia, yet poor bone health affects 2 in 3 Australians over 50 years, including a growing number of men.
“Individuals may not know they have osteoporosis until their bones are so weak that a strain, bump or fall causes a fracture, leading to loss of mobility, quality of life and even premature death.
“Current lifestyle trends such as avoiding dairy products due to fears of weight gain, along with smoking and a lack of physical activity affect bone reserves, which can lead to thinning bones in later years.
“There is a natural ‘decay’ of the skeleton as we age – each time your skeleton renews as part of the ageing process it puts less of itself back on each time – hence the need to top up calcium levels, and start from a strong, healthy bone base.”
Exercise and calcium intake are critical components during growth to build stronger bones, with physical activity most effective before and during puberty. Even 10-20 minutes a day of weight-bearing exercise like jumping and skipping during growth helps.
“This base needs to be maintained in your 20s and 30s by continuing to take active steps for bone health. Consuming calcium-rich dairy foods, doing regular weight bearing exercises and getting safe sun for Vitamin D will ensure your bones are more resilient now and into the future,” Prof Seeman advised
“If we do not make major strides to tackle the issue, it is estimated there will be 6.2 million Australians over 50 with osteoporosis or osteopenia (thin bones) in less than a decade.”
This is up from 4.7 million in 2012 – an increase of 31 per cent by 2022. Currently, the debilitating bone disease is estimated to cost the Australian economy about $7 billion a year.
The experts’ call to action asks women, in particular, to be ‘Stronger Together’ by helping spread the word about the three simple actions everyone can take to build strong bones: enjoy milk, cheese and yogurt for calcium; do weight bearing exercises such as brisk walking, netball, strength training or tennis; and, get safe sun for vitamin D.
Despite new guidelines issued last year, 85 per cent of women aged 19‐49 do not consume the recommended 2.5 serves of dairy foods a day. The figure is even worse for women aged 50 – 69, with only 0.5 per cent reaching their daily target of four serves.
A survey last month of 1,010 Australian women found that bone health is simply not on the radar.
Eighty five per cent of women have never had a conversation about bone health or osteoporosis before, or only sporadically discuss these important issues (once every couple of years).
Seventy one per cent of women do not consider their bone health to be a high priority, with only 18 per cent taking regular steps to build strong, healthy bones, and only 14 per cent doing sufficient weight-bearing exercise for bone health.
The survey also found that only 22 per cent of women are worried about weakening bones as they grow older, with the majority more concerned about external signs of ageing such as wrinkles or sagging skin.
Healthy Bones Action Week’s theme of ‘Stronger Together’ aims to reverse the increasing prevalence of osteoporosis in Australia by urging mothers, daughters, grandmothers, sisters, friends and colleagues to look after their bones before it is too late.
Since the first Healthy Bones Action Week back in 1994, there have been significant changes to health recommendations to prevent osteoporosis. The most notable of these is the introduction of the recommendation for Vitamin D, which was not included in 1994, as well as changes to the Australian Dietary Guidelines which now recommend a higher daily intake of foods from the core dairy food group and/or alternatives for women aged 50 plus. This crucial recommendation coincides with the average age of menopause and the corresponding acceleration of bone loss.
For more information and tips on building healthy bones, visit www.healthybones.com.au
The leading health experts who issued the call to action include representatives of the Australian & New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society (ANZBMS), Austin Health (Vic), Osteoporosis Australia and Australian Institute of Musculoskeletal Science.
They include:
- Prof Rob Daly — Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research at Deakin University, and spokesperson for Osteoporosis Australia, VIC
- A/Prof Terry Diamond — Endocrinologist and Specialist in Bone Disorders, St George Hospital and UNSW, NSW
- Prof Lorraine Dennerstein — Professor Emeritus, University of Melbourne, VIC
- A/Prof Bruce Foster AM – Staff Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon, Womens and Childrens Hospital (SA); Associate Professor Faculties of Orthopaedics and Paediatrics at University of Adelaide; Research Fellow Flinders University, SA
- Dr Sandra Iuliano-Burns — Senior Research Fellow (Endocrinology), University of Melbourne/Austin Health, VIC
- Assoc/Prof Kerrie M. Sanders — Australian Institute of Musculoskeletal Science, Dept of Medicine, North West Academic Centre, Western Health, University of Melbourne
- Prof Ego Seeman — Endocrinologist, Austin Health, VIC
- Prof Markus Seibel — Professor of Endocrinology, University of Sydney and President, Australian & New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society (ANZBMS), NSW
- Assoc/Prof Kathy Zhu — University of Western Australia, WA
- Professor Julie Pasco — Head, Epi-Centre for Healthy Ageing; Deputy Director, IMPACT Strategic Research Centre, School of Medicine, Deakin University, VIC
For more information contact:
Dairy Australia
http://www.dairyaustralia.com.au/