Bid to educate public on their bone health

The campaign currently taking place in various women organisations in Abu Dhabi highlights lectures and free bone density screening to the public.

An international study reporting that 81 per cent of post menopausal women from the Middle East who are tested for osteoporosis have inadequate Vitamin D levels prompted 3B to refocus its efforts from merely promoting osteoporosis awareness to updating the public, more particularly osteoporosis sufferers on advance information which were never publicly announced.

Contrary to common misconceptions about countries with enough sunlight, Vitamin D inadequacy is widespread in the Middle East. Vitamin D is an essential component in osteoporosis treatment. It plays a vital role in ensuring that the body can absorb calcium from diet and/or supplements. Calcium levels need to be maintained to support normal bone turnover, build strong, healthy bones and prevent fractures. Osteoporosis is a chronic condition that leads to bone loss and susceptibility to fractures.

In the UAE, over 50 per cent of women tested for osteoporosis are said to have either osteopenia or developed osteoporosis.