Strong to the Bone

AMWA Urges Postmenopausal Women to Stay Strong to the Bone

AMWA released a nationwide survey of 1,000 women with postmenopausal osteoporosis, conducted by Harris Interactive, which shows that although 90% of the surveyed women expect to stay active as they age, one in three had not currently been prescribed medication to treat her osteoporosis and more than half do not know enough about this potentially serious disease. In addition, 57% of surveyed women reported they do not consistently do weight-bearing exercise, such as walking or dancing, which helps to keep bones strong.

The lack of knowledge and action related to bone health revealed by the survey was alarming, given that the National Osteoporosis Foundation estimates that one in two women older than 50 is predicted to break a bone due to osteoporosis in her remaining lifetime.

To address the disconnect between women’s aspirations and actions, AMWA joined forces with health and fitness expert, Dr. Pam Peeke, to launch Strong to the Bone, a nationwide awareness campaign to urge better bone health and encourage women to take steps to avoid fractures.

The centerpiece of the campaign is a Web site, www.strongtothebone.com where women can take a five-minute assessment developed by AMWA to help evaluate their osteoporosis risk, and use the knowledge to speak to their healthcare professional about a personal treatment plan.