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FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
Contact:
communications@nof.org
U.S. Surgeon General’s Report on
Osteoporosis and Bone Health Puts
Spotlight on Growing National Health
Threat
(Washington, DC) October
14, 2004 – The National Osteoporosis
Foundation (NOF) applauds the release of
the first Surgeon General’s Report on
Bone Health and Osteoporosis in
this nation’s history.
“This report is a milestone in the field
of osteoporosis and bone health,” said
Bess Dawson-Hughes, MD, President, NOF
and Professor of Medicine and a member
of the Endocrine Division at Tufts
University. “Since the National
Osteoporosis Foundation first opened its
doors 20 years ago, we have seen great
progress in the diagnosis and treatment
of this devastating disease. This report
brings together all the advances we have
seen, offering patients, the public and
healthcare professionals the opportunity
to improve their understanding of
disease risk factors, prevention steps
and treatment options, making it easier
for them to take the steps they need to
protect their bone health.”
Osteoporosis affects an estimated 44
million American men and women age 50
and older, according to NOF prevalence
statistics. One in two women and one in
four men in this age group will break a
bone due to osteoporosis. Annually,
osteoporosis is responsible for more
than 1.5 million broken bones, costing the
nation $17 billion.*
“Despite these staggering numbers, most
people do not realize their personal
risks of developing osteoporosis or
suffering a related fracture. This
report serves as a wake-up call to the
American public to take action now to
minimize the risks of this disease,”
said Judith Cranford, NOF Executive
Director. “Osteoporosis may be a silent
disease, but we cannot afford to be
silent about it.”
As the nation’s leading voluntary health
organization solely dedicated to
osteoporosis and bone health, NOF
encourages all individuals to
* Get their daily recommended amounts of
calcium and vitamin D;
* Engage in regular weight-bearing
exercise;
* Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol
use;
* Talk to a doctor about bone health and
have a bone density test and take
medication when appropriate.
For more information on the U.S. Surgeon
General’s Report on Osteoporosis and
Bone Health, the National Osteoporosis
Foundation and osteoporosis, please
click here.
Established in 1984, the National
Osteoporosis Foundation is the nation’s
leading voluntary health organization
solely dedicated to osteoporosis and
bone health. NOF is working to make bone
health a reality and a lifelong priority
for all individuals through programs of
awareness, public and health
professional education, advocacy and
research.
*America's Bone Health: The State of
Osteoporosis and Low Bone Mass in Our
Nation. National Osteoporosis
Foundation. Washington, DC:2002
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