Youth prone to Osteoporosis: UK Expert

Chennai, Oct 14 (UNI) Observing that 60 million people in India were affected by Osteoporosis, an UK Expert today said the present day youth, including women, had become increasingly prone to the bone-weakening disease due to sedentary lifestyle and lack of exercise.

Speaking at a national workshop on Bone Densitometry organised by the SRM University at its campus in suburban Kattankulathur to mark the World Osteoporosis Day, Mr W D Evans, Head, Department of Medical Physics, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff and Cardiff University, UK, dwelt on the issue at length and expressed concern over the high prevalence of Osteoporosis, especially among women.

''Due to sedentary life styles and lack of exercise, a large number of present day youth faced the risk of being affected by it as they grow old,'' he warned.

Observing that 60 million people in India were affected by Osteoporosis, he said this would have a direct impact on public health, besides having serious social and financial complications, as a majority of them were women and were aged.

The present day youth were prone to the disease because they neglected dairy products and milk consumption which led to reduction in the intake of calcium.

''Added to this is malnutrition, lack of exercise and physical activity, which makes them more prone to Osteoporosis as they grow older,'' he added.

Mr Evans said his visit to the SRM University was also to explore the possibility of an academic tie-up with the SRM.

Indian Council of Medical Research Director General Sujit Kumar Bhattacharya, who inaugurated the workshop, said Bone Densitometry techniques found very good applications in understanding important factors that caused Osteoporosis.

University Vice-Chancellor P Sathyanarayanan also spoke on the occasion.

UNI GV SB NS1832