As our society fixates on slim being attractive and models starve themselves to achieve “the look”, then parade “the look” on the catwalk, in magazine advertisements selling everything from clothes to cosmetics, women of all ages try to emulate that style, with teens and young women even competing with each other to become thin, severely restricting their diets and sometimes exercising to extreme and in the process starving their bones.  Doctors have spoken out about the dangers but women still think that Osteoporosis is a disease that their great-grandmothers had and they don’t realise that it is becoming more prevalent today and in younger women too.

Underweight women have below normal levels of calcium, and sometimes estrogen, making them more likely to fracture bones and putting themselves at increased risk of Osteoporosis, a progressive disease that can strike at any age.  Larger women rarely get Osteoporosis; the increased weight supports and strengthens the bones while estrogen metabolites produced by fat cells also help with bone strength.  Even after menopause hormones produced by the adrenal glands are metabolised by fat cells and coverted into the estrogen needed to protect the bones.  Of course, being overweight brings its own risks and causes wear and tear of the joints of the ankles and the knees.

Low body weight with it’s associated low bone density is a serious problem and it affects men as well as women.  If blood calcium levels drop too low over time from decreased calcium intake increased parathyroid hormone levels stimute bones to release calcium, further depleting them.

It is impossible to consume all the nutrients required for good health, bone growth and maintenance on a low calorie diet alone. Women who insist on attaining thinness must supplement their diet with calcium and other nutrients and are advised to do this under the guidance of a medical professional or qualified dietician.

Stop Smoking! Smoking also puts the bones at increased risk of Osteoporosis. It is not yet fully known how it does this but it robs the protective effect of calcium and works to prevent bone reformation.  Nicotine also inhibits estrogen release and causes it’s breakdown by the liver.  Smokers have twice the risk of hip fracture as non-smokers.  Smokers also tend to be thinner than non-smokers.

It is possible to be slim without putting bones at risk. Healthy Bones require healthy eating along with regular exercise to strengthen muscles and bones; particularly resistance exercise and this is where Vibration Training can help.  By increasing muscle strength bones are better supported while increased blood supply allows the bones to receive the nutrients needed for strength and growth.  Forces like tension or vibration cause electrical activity in the bone which stimulates osteoblasts to enhance bone growth.

If dieting has become an obsession, EDEN can help.