The thinnest elderly women have the most brittle bones (for preventing osteoporosis)
Among women over 50, one-third suffer from osteoporosis; among women over 80, two-thirds have the disease. Although the prevalence of osteoporosis in elderly men is lower than in women of the same age group, they also face the risk of fatal fractures.
Many elderly people believe that osteoporosis is a normal part of aging. In fact, not all elderly people experience osteoporotic fractures. By comprehensively intervening with risk factors, the onset of osteoporosis can be delayed and prevented.
Although some causes cannot be controlled, such as age, female menopause, and a maternal family history, many lifestyle-related causes are controllable, such as low body weight, low sex hormones, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, lack of physical activity, and deficiencies of calcium or vitamin D in the diet.
Among them, several groups are at high risk for osteoporosis and require special attention. These include thin elderly women, homebodies, women during the postpartum breastfeeding period, and postmenopausal women. Among them, thin elderly women should be especially careful, because gravity and muscle contraction can affect the function and metabolism of bone cells, and people who are underweight are prone to osteoporosis. If an elderly person feels that they have become shorter or have developed a hunched back, they should seek medical attention for an examination as soon as possible.