Osteoporosis is already a huge health problem in Asia that is getting more serious every day. It is anticipated that in 45 years (by 2050), one out of every two fractures in the world will occur in Asia. In view of the figures projected above, it would be sensible for men and women to undergo osteoporosis risk assessment accompanied by appropriate modification of their lifestyle.
Osteoporosis, in which the bones become fragile and break easily, is one of the world's most devastating and common chronic diseases. It strikes one in three women over 50 worldwide (more than breast cancer) and one in five men (more than prostate cancer).Maximum bone development takes place in girls and boys roughly between ages 11-17. By building peak bone mass during this period, young people invest in their bones and reduce the risk of fracture later in life. In girls the bone tissue accumulated during the ages of 11-13 roughly equals the amount of bone lost during the 30 years following menopause. Furthermore, it has been established the most physically active young girls gain about 40% more bone mass than the least active girls of the same age. A proper diet (including adequate calcium and vitamin D), and sufficient exercise is critical in building bone strength and mass. Certain lifestyle activities, such as eating disorders, smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, have been held to be responsible for reduced bone health.
The World Osteoporosis Day is celebrated worldwide on October 20, and would focus on the significance of exercise and nutrition in building up bone health. As a part of the awareness campaign, beauty queens, who won their titles between 1972 and 2003, have been involved in actively educating the teenagers regarding bone integrity.
It has been noted that many pre-teenage and teenage girls worldwide have an obsession with beauty at the expense of health. The seven beauty queens hailing from different continents appealed to girls and young women to realize that modern ideas of "beauty" can damage their bones and lead to osteoporosis later in life. Their real life experiences were spoken about to a larger extent. In addition, the changing perceptions regarding beauty concepts were highlighted.
They urged women and men of all ages to take responsibility for their bone health, to recognize that while beauty is partly physical it is also made up of inner beauty that includes respecting one's health and behavior.
