Singapore’s silent health threat to women is totally preventable
Are you young and busy? You might be just the modern, urban woman in Singapore that has a busy but inactive and sedentary lifestyle. If the majority of your day whizzes by behind a steering wheel; in front of the computer; at a desk; on a chair; or on a couch, then it is time to spare a thought for your bones.
Over the years, a growing number of young women are becoming susceptible to preventable health issues, such as bone-related diseases, and more women in Singapore are displaying signs of low bone mass, which can lead to debilitating diseases such as osteoporosis.
Hip fracture rates increased four to five-fold over a period of 30 years, which means that within a generation our lives have prospered and bone health regressed exponentially.
In fact, Singapore has the highest rate of osteoporotic fractures in Asia among women over the age of 50 years old* and is fast approaching the facture rates of the US and Europe that lead the way.
Also, in addition to potential loss of mobility, one in four people who sustain a hip fracture die within 12 months and less than 50 per cent of those who survive regain their previous level of function.
Since the 1960s, the incidence of hip fracture here has increased 1.5 times in men and five times in women.
So, if a lifestyle with inadequate physical activity and sedentary working conditions is resulting in a growing number of unfit, unhealthy women, what can be done?
Well, for a start, get moving. Many women are not meeting their recommended levels of physical activity, outlined by the World Health Organization as being (for 18 to 64-year-olds) at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week. The equivalent in vigorous-intensity aerobic activity is at least 75 minutes of per week.
Then look towards a high calcium milk product such as Anlene to support your goal. Bone density peaks at 30-years-old and declines thereafter. Bone actually needs calcium replenishment daily. If we don’t meet our daily calcium requirement, it will draw it from our bones’ calcium bank, which results in accelerating our bone loss over time.
It’s food for thought.
Source: International Osteoporosis Foundation, Asia-Pacific Regional Audit Report 2014
