CHENNAI: Two reasons why Popeye will never get osteoporosis — he eats a lot of spinach and he's, well, male. ``At least half of the women over 50 are in the initial stages of osteoporosis,'' says Ramesh Babu, consultant orthopaedic surgeon at the Spot Hospital.

The World Health Organisation has designated October 20 as World Osteoporosis Day. The disease, frequently confused with arthritis, makes bones weak and fragile. This leads to frequent fractures, especially of the vertebra, wrists and hipbones.

Post-menopausal women, those with a family history of osteoporosis, small, thin individuals, smokers, alcoholics and those on steroids and certain other drugs are the groups at highest risk of becoming osteoporotic.

Though no studies are available for Tamil Nadu, 15 to 20 per cent of the elderly Indian population are estimated to suffer from this `silent disease'.

In women, the cessation in production of oestrogen is cited as an important reason. Enough calcium intake especially till the age of 30 to 35, along with exercise is the ideal way of ensuring prevention, says Dr. Babu. M. Parthasarathy, trauma and orthopaedic surgeon . He believes that sufficient protein intake is also important and finds vegetarians to be more susceptible to the disease . `

`In the West, the disease is more commonly found in the 60 plus age group.

Here it is prevalent even among 40 to 50 year old women, especially among the high middle-income group,'' he says. A sedentary lifestyle and carbohydrates don't help.

Osteoporosis can be detected by the Bone Mass Density (BMD) test. Medication can curb ensuing complications.

Spot Hospital on Dr. Ambedkar Road, Kodambakkam, is holding a free camp with orthopaedic consultation and BMD test on Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Arthritis Foundation of India is also holding free awareness and screening camps every weekend from November 12 onwards.

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