Actress Sally Field Shares Personal Story About Living with Osteoporosis at Capitol Hill Briefing

WASHINGTON, DC (March 17, 2007)— The Society for Women’s Health Research and the National Osteoporosis Foundation held a briefing on Capitol Hill today to inform lawmakers about recent advances in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Actress Sally Field, an osteoporosis patient and advocate, spoke at the briefing and encouraged women to protect themselves against fractures so they can remain active and reduce their risk of a debilitating injury.

“Eighty percent of the 10 million Americans affected by osteoporosis are women,” said Phyllis Greenberger, MSW, president and CEO, of the Society for Women’s Health Research, a Washington, DC, based non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the health of all women through research, education and advocacy.  “That is why we are working to raise awareness of this issue during National Women’s Health Week.  Although the disease most often strikes the elderly, there are steps you can take early in life to protect and improve your bone health.  We hope that Congress will join us in supporting increased education and funding for care in this important area.”

Ethel Siris, M.D., president of the National Osteoporosis Foundation, the nation’s leading non-profit organization dedicated solely to osteoporosis and bone health, spoke about protecting and strengthening bones at all ages.

“During Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month in May, the National Osteoporosis Foundation reminds us that osteoporosis is both beatable and treatable, yet it remains a major public health issue for more than half of all women and a quarter of all men over 50 in the U.S.,” said Siris, who is also professor of clinical medicine with the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University and director of the Toni Stabile Osteoporosis Center at the Columbia University Medical Center, New York-Presbyterian Hospital in New York, N.Y. “Moreover, since peak bone mass typically occurs between the ages of 18 and 25, it is important for individuals to build strong bones through physical activity, exercise and good nutrition, including adequate calcium and vitamin D. As a nation and as individuals, we must work to reduce the burden of fractures in our country and to prevent this disease in future generations.”

“Osteoporosis was the farthest thing from my mind, because I’ve always tried to eat right, exercise and be active,” said Field. “I’m challenging women to do the right things for their bones.”

Laura Tosi, M.D., director of the Bone Health Program at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC, and a Society for Women’s Health Research board member, spoke about the progress and goals of bone health research.

“Broken bones frequently rob individuals, particularly seniors, of their independence,” Tosi said.  “Modern bone research seeks to understand what makes bones strong and thus how to prevent fractures in order to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to participate in the activities they love best across their entire lifespan.”

The briefing was made possible with support from Roche and GlaxoSmithKline.

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Established in 1984, the National Osteoporosis Foundation is the nation’s leading voluntary health organization solely dedicated to osteoporosis and bone health. Its mission is to prevent osteoporosis and related fractures, to promote lifelong bone health, to help improve the lives of those affected by osteoporosis, and to find a cure through programs of awareness, advocacy, public and health professional education and research. For more information on osteoporosis and bone health, contact NOF online at www.nof.org or by telephone (800) 223-9994.

The Society for Women’s Health Research is the nation’s only non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the health of all women through research, education and advocacy.  Founded in 1990, the Society brought to national attention the need for the appropriate inclusion of women in major medical research studies and the need for more information about conditions affecting women exclusively, disproportionately, or differently than men. The Society advocates increased funding for research on women’s health; encourages the study of sex differences that may affect the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease; promotes the inclusion of women in medical research studies; and informs women, providers, policy makers and media about contemporary women’s health issues. Visit the Society’s Web site at www.womenshealthresearch.org for more information.