Phillips-Fit

Osteoporosis is a bone thinning disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break. If not prevented or if left untreated, osteoporosis can progress painlessly until a bone breaks. Any bone can be affected, but of special concern are fractures of the wrist, hip and the spine. A survey carried out by the National Osteoporosis Society in 2002 showed that one in three women were likely to develop osteoporosis and one in twelve men over 50 will also suffer. Women are at a higher risk due to their bone density being 10-25% less than men, also due to the decay of oestrogen when postmenopausal.

There are many other factors that can lead to the development of osteoporosis. Prevention of this disease is very important because, while there are treatments for osteoporosis, there is currently no cure. Prevention includes regular weight bearing activity like walking, jogging, running and resistance training combined with a balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D and a healthy lifestyle with no smoking or excessive alcohol use.