H o w
o l d
a r e
y o u r
b o n e s ?
34 million Americans are at risk for osteoporosis. Some are
senior citizens. Some are still in college. W hen it comes to
gauging bone strength, age is just a number— one among many.
I
he osteoporosis problem took a
^generational leap several years ago
when researchers at the University
of Arkansas analyzed the bone
density of 164 women between the
ages of 18 and 30. This is a critical age bracket,
when the body builds up a bank of bone mass
to defend against thinning and fractures in
the decades ahead. But the research team was
startled to find that 17 percent of the young
women had bone density so low they might
never reach a protective peak. Unsettling? Yes,
but ultimately enlightening. Now it's clear that
while age is the most commonly recognized
risk factor for fragile bones, diet, activity level,
medications, family history, and body type
matter too. In other words, your bones can
seem much "older”— or younger—than you are.
To help size up your skeletal status,
B etter
Hornes a n d Gardens®
worked with leading bone
specialists to develop a quiz that examines
these factors. No matter what your score, it’s
never too late to build stronger bones. Just
note that this quiz is not a diagnostic tool;
rather, it’s meant to be a conversation-starter
with your doctor. Begin by answering the
questions on
pa g es 2 10 -2 11
, then add up your
points and read on for targeted advice.
2 0 8
B E T T E R H O M E S A N D G A R D E N S |
M A Y 2 0 1 1 |
B H G .C O M
PHOTO: JUPITER
