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Young Women Risk Osteoporosis

© Gretchen Malik

Many researchers fear that more young women are vulnerable to developing osteoporosis at a later age because most fail to take in sufficient calcium, even as new drugs appear better at treating the bone-wasting disease. Among young people who run the highest risk of thinning bones are those with eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia. And since they are concerned with weight, you cannot market products like calcium supplements or fortified foods. Health authorities recommend that teenagers and the elderly consume 1500 milligrams of calcium a day, or about four to five servings of milk or dairy foods. It is recommended that children and adults under 50 years of age get 1000 milligrams.

Treatment of osteoporosis with any drug therapy also requires sufficient intake of calcium and vitamin D, which helps the body absorb calcium. Still, only about 70 percent of women taking osteoporosis medications also use supplements.

Health professionals also expressed concern about the public's lack of understanding of the disease. They cited a survey conducted by the International Osteoporosis Foundation that found 85 percent of women do not believe they are at risk of developing the debilitating disease and very few said they discussed it with their doctors.

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