FERNWOOD FITNESS - PULSE eMagazine - Issue#11 - Flipbook - Page 18
FIT
What is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a bone condi琀椀on a昀昀ec琀椀ng
around 853,600 (3.4%) people in Australia
in 2022. It’s a condi琀椀on where the bones
become fragile, weak, and bri琀琀le, leading
to a higher risk of fractures from minor
bumps or accidents. While osteoporosis is
o昀琀en assumed to a昀昀ect older individuals,
it can impact anyone, regardless of gender,
background, or age. Thus, maintaining bone
health is crucial throughout life.
‘Peak bone mass’—the maximum bone
density you’ll ever achieve—occurs by the
early 20s. Therefore, it’s vital to maximise
your life琀椀me ‘bone bank’ through physical
ac琀椀vity during childhood and adolescence.
Many people become health-conscious
only in adulthood, o昀琀en when this crucial
window of opportunity has already closed
or is closing. However, don’t worry! It’s
never too late to take steps to improve your
bone health. Bone mass generally starts
to decline from the mid-30s in sedentary
individuals, but exercise can help slow, or
even reverse, this loss.
