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Office of Women's Health Home > Publications > Indiana Takes Action > Indiana Takes Action Table of Contents > Indiana Takes Action Osteoporosis Osteoporosis

Facts

  • Over 28 million Americans are affected by osteoporosis, a disease in which fragile bones (mainly the hip, spine, and wrist) fracture easily .

  • Over 600,000 Hoosiers over age 50 have osteoporosis or have low bone mass .

  • Eighty percent of those affected by osteoporosis are women.

  • One in two white women and one in eight white men over age 50 will have an osteoporosis-related fracture in their lifetime.

  • Ten percent of African-American women over age 50 have osteoporosis; an additional 30% have low bone density that puts them at risk for developing osteoporosis.

  • While osteoporosis is often thought of as an older person's disease, it can strike at any age.

  • Osteoporosis is responsible for more than 1.5 million fractures annually.

  • Women can lose up to 20% of their bone mass in the five to seven years following menopause, making them more susceptible to osteoporosis.

 

Who Is At Risk?

Factors that increase the chances of developing osteoporosis are:

  • Being female

  • Thin and/or small frame

  • Advanced age

  • Family history of osteoporosis

  • Postmenopause, including early or surgically induced menopause

  • Abnormal absence of menstrual periods (amenorrhea)

  • Anorexia nervosa or bulimia

  • A diet low in calcium

  • Use of certain medications, such as corticosteroids and anticonvulsants

  • Low testosterone levels in men

  • An inactive lifestyle

  • Cigarette smoking

  • Excessive use of alcohol

  • Caucasian or Asian, although African-Americans and Hispanic-Americans are at significant risk as well.

 

Actions to Decrease the Risk of Osteoporosis

  • Educate women of all ages about prevention, risks and treatment.

  • Encourage the following actions by older women:
    -A balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D
    -Weight-bearing exercises
    -A healthy lifestyle with no smoking and limited alcohol intake
    -Bone-density testing and medication when appropriate.

 

Healthy People 2000 Target

Reduce the proportion of people who experience a limitation in major activity due to chronic conditions.

For More Information

National Osteoporosis Foundation 800-223-9994
http://www.nof.org/
Indiana Osteoporosis Prevention Initiative
Indiana State Department of Health 		317-233-7740
http://www.in.gov/isdh/programs/osteo/index.htm
Dairy and Nutrition Council, Inc. 317-842-3060 (Indianapolis)
219-299-8040 (South Bend)

Research Opportunities

Osteoporosis Research Clinic
Indiana University School of Medicine		 317-274-8554, ext:304

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