Osteoporosis & Weight Loss

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

20 May 2006 05:54 AM

Osteoporosis is a common disease that affects people as they age, particularly women. Osteoporosis causes bones to become porous and brittle - this can lead to difficulty healing from broken bones and other health conditions. More than 10 million Americans are affected by osteoporosis and most of these are women.

As women, we have a more than 25% chance of developing osteoporosis as we age. We reach our peak bone mass when we are about 30 years old. That can be pretty intimidating when you consider that at 30, we have only lived about 1/3 of our expected lifespan. So for the next 2/3 of our lives, we need to pay very close attention in order to protect our bodies and our bones.

After the age of 30, our bone mineral density starts to decline - this is why it's important that we maintain the levels of calcium in our system. Weight loss helps to protect our bones by building up muscle and bone density through exercise and reducing the amount of stress on the bones created by excessive weight bearing.

The best exercise to help prevent osteoporisis is walking. Walking is a weight-bearing exercising as is jogging, jump roping and swimming. Weight training will also build up bone density while burning fat and creating a healthier body. A regular fitness program can help prevent stoop as you get older, maintain your physical health and reduce your chances for needing such difficult medical procedures as hip replacement.

Once you hit the change of life or menopause, some doctors recommend estrogen replacement therapy to help maintain your bone density and hormone levels. When you are severely overweight or obese, you have additional issues with the amount of estrogen your body either needs or can maintain due to the excessive weight on your frame. A weight loss program not only helps you to look better, it can help you to feel better by protecting your body for the long term.

You should take regular calcium supplements between 1000mg and 1500 mg per day. You should eat a diet that is healthy in dairy products (such as skim milk and low fat yogurt) and you should exercise regularly. Start losing weight now, build a healthier lifestyle and avoid issues like osteoporosis and more as you age. There's never been a better time to start a good physical program as a part of your daily lifestyle.

Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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