Focussing on school children, pregnant women and the elderly will have a positive impact while addressing osteoporosis, speakers at a conference said.
Sedentary lifestyle, lack of exposure to sunlight and dietary patterns were among the key reasons for people, especially those living in urban areas, contracting osteoporosis, said Usha Sriram of Aceer Health, that organised the Endocrinology, Nutrition, Diabetes Optimising Pregnancy Outcomes (ENDPRO) conference.
“People apply sunscreen lotions and creams that reduce up to 90 per cent of the positive effects of sunlight on skin. This is a problem in a society like ours that attaches a lot of importance to fair complexion,” Dr. Sriram said.
Ambrish Mithal of Medanta Medicity, New Delhi, said that 60 per cent of people suffering from osteoporosis in India were men. He said that intervention in the form of awareness programmes at the school level and also, at the time of pregnancy through counselling on a balanced diet will help in reducing the prevalence of osteoporosis.
Speakers also insisted on the importance of consumption of the right amount of dairy products and also, adequate physical activity by the elderly to keep their bones strong and healthy.
Nutritionists, gynaecologists and experts from various walks of medicine attended the conference, organised to coincide with World Osteoporosis Day. The significant points raised at the conference will help in shaping and establishing best practice guidelines, organisers said.
