World's First Osteoporosis-Survival Guide In the Anvil

How to build strong bones to prevent the debilitating bone condition, osteoporosis, health experts are all set to finalise a series of wide-ranging recommendations.

The guidelines to be discuss in Sydney on Thursday, the first of their kind in the world, will include recommendations on how much calcium, vitamin D and weight bearing exercise is needed to keep bones strong and prevent fractures.

Osteoporosis Australia Medical Director Professor Peter Ebeling, who will chair the summit, said the guidelines will target all age groups and are particularly important for children.

"Many children are calcium deficient because they are tending to focus on carbonated drinks and not drinking enough milk," the Age quoted Ebeling as saying.

"They are also less active and not doing as much weight-bearing exercises as they used to like jumping and stepping exercises or medium impact exercise like jogging.

"All those things are good for your bones because walking isn't quite enough. Even dancing is good.

"It doesn't have to be done for very long, just 15 minutes four times a week.

"Childhood is a crucial time, that's when the bone bank is laid down ... so we need to do something about it," he pointed out.

More than 100 experts including bone specialists, GPs, nutritionists and exercise specialists from Australia and around the world will attend the summit, which coincides with World Osteoporosis Day.

They will debate the latest clinical research on osteoporosis and a set of draft recommendations drawn up by Osteoporosis Australia.

After the summit finalises the official guidelines, they will be distributed through GPs and other health professionals.

Source: ANI