As World Osteoporosis Day approaches, Irish broadcasting legend Mary Kennedy is urging women over the age of 65 to make bone health their priority.

Osteoporosis is a bone disease that leads to a decrease in bone mass and density, causing bones to become fragile and break easily.

It is sometimes called the ‘silent disease’ as there are often no signs or symptoms that a person is losing bone density until a fracture occurs.

Around 300,000 people in Ireland have osteoporosis; however, the Irish Osteoporosis Society estimates that just 19% have been properly diagnosed.

Women over 65 are most at risk - particularly after menopause as oestrogen levels decrease - and as a woman ages, her risk increases.

As a result, former Eurovision presenter Mary Kennedy is calling on all women over the age of 65 to protect themselves and their loved ones this World Osteoporosis Day by talking to their GP or visiting irishosteoporosis.ie to find out more.

World Osteoporosis Day is about empowering women to speak to each other about how important it is to make their bone health a priority – and to take the health of their bones extremely seriously.

Research shows that one-in-five women die within 12 months of breaking their hip and in Ireland, nearly seven-in-10 hip fractures happen to women.

This World Osteoporosis Day, it is essential to begin thinking about bone health the same way you do about other health check-ups.

Talk to your doctor today or visit irishosteoporosis.ie to find out more.

References for data and statistics listed in the article are from the IOS Osteoporosis Fact Sheet. Available at: https://www.irishosteoporosis.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/IOS-fact-sheet-general.pdf

All information has been taken from the following source: Irish Osteoporosis Society: https://www.irishosteoporosis.ie/

Date Accessed: September 2023

Job Number: IRL-NP-0623-80009

Date of prep: September 2023