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The only effective method to combat osteoporosis is through preventative measures such as exercise and healthy eating, experts said at a press conference in Vienna Thursday ahead of the 13th Vienna Osteoporosis Day on October 30.
These measures lead to as strong a bone mass as possible, which, particularly when undertaken at a younger age, can prevent osteoporotic fractures during older age, the newspaper Der Standard reported.
The condition, also referred to simply as "bone loss", primarily affects older women but is also found among older men and younger people. The experts said maximum bone mass is built by the age of 30, after which only proper activity can help maintain the condition of the bones, such as regular exercise that keeps bones dense and prevents muscle breakdown later in life.
Osteoporosis patients with diabetes are particularly at risk, they said, with diabetes patients often having sluggish bone metabolism, and bone densitometry test results often not reflecting bone abnormalities in people with the condition.
Oncology specialist Irene Kuehrer said exercise can also help patients who already have osteoporosis as part of their therapy, but only in combination with a proper calcium-rich diet.
Excessive efforts to remain thin for aesthetic purposes along with fast foot diets rob young people of adequate calcium in their diet while growing up, Kuehrer added.
Vitamin D is also important, the experts said, something helped by the fact that much of the population is nowadays aware of vitamin deficiency issues.
The experts were unanimous in calling for new guidelines to deal with cases of patients with the bone condition, such as when a radiologist has confirmed an osteoporotic fracture, steps toward a diagnosis leading to eventual therapy are automatically part of the process.
