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Living Healthy: The Asian American Osteoporosis Education Project

65% of Asian American women have low bone mineral density, one of the major signs of onset of osteoporosis, the most common bone disease in the world. Each year in the United States, more than 1.5 million fractures of the hip, spine, and wrist occur as a result of osteoporosis. More than one-fifth of Asian American women suffer from this serious condition, and many face barriers to prevention information, screening, and treatment services.

From 2000-2002, NAWHO conducted Living Healthy: The Asian American Osteoporosis Education Project to raise awareness of osteoporosis among postmenopausal Asian American women and to motivate them to develop positive lifestyles to prevent osteoporosis. Through this program, NAWHO developed the Living Healthy Implementation Kit, an osteoporosis education tool for community-based organizations. The kit includes culturally appropriate messages about osteoporosis risk factors, consequences and preventive methods, as well as a step-by-step guide for implementing an osteoporosis education seminar. The kit has been disseminated to 363 community-based and national organizations. Download the Kit >

Osteoporosis Frequently Asked Questions:           

What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a disease of poor bone health, where your bones become weak. There are no symptoms for osteoporosis until a fracture occurs. Fractures of the spine can cause stooped posture, a hump on the upper back, and height loss. Osteoporosis is not a normal part of aging, and it can often be prevented through a lifetime of healthy bone behaviors.

Why are Asian American women at risk?
Postmenopausal Asian American women are particularly at risk for developing osteoporosis.
Reasons for increased risk to postmenopausal Asian American women:

• Asian American women tend to have body structures that are low in weight with small bones.
• More women than men usually suffer from osteoporosis.
  Postmenopausal women are at highest risk because bone loss occurs more quickly in older age.
• Postmenopausal women are at highest risk because estrogen levels have decreased. Estrogen is a hormone that protects bone density.
• Asian Americans tend to have diets low in calcium.
• Asian Americans often suffer from lactose intolerance which can make it difficult for them to get enough calcium in their diets. It is estimated that as many as 90% of Asians suffer from lactose intolerance [National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 1998].
• Many Asian Americans do not get enough exercise. For example, one national study found that 42% of Asian Americans did not engage in leisure-time physical activity [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1997].

What are some risk factors for getting osteoporosis that cannot be changed?
Risk factors that cannot be changed:

• Being female
• Older age
• Small or thin body size
• Asian or Caucasian ethnicity
• Family history of osteoporosis

What are some risk factors for getting osteoporosis that can be changed?
Risk factors that can be changed:

• Decrease in estrogen levels (i.e., after menopause)
• Lack of calcium and vitamin D
• Lack of physical activity or exercise
• Certain medications and conditions
• Cigarette smoking
• Excessive alcohol use

Is there a cure for osteoporosis?
Although there is no cure for osteoporosis, there are several options to help stop or reduce further bone loss and reduce the risk of fractures.

Treatments are available in a variety of types:

• Bisphosphonates
• Selective Estrogen Replacement Modulators (SERMs)
• Calcitonin

Some have been approved for the prevention of osteoporosis as well. All of these treatments work best when taken with sufficient calcium and vitamin D. All are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

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For more information about osteoporosis:

Office of the U.S. Surgeon General, United States Department of Health and Human Services. Bone Health and Osteoporosis: A Report of the Surgeon General
On October 14, 2004, the Surgeon General issued first-ever report on the  nation's bone health, stating that by 2020, one in two Americans over age 50 will be at risk for fractures from osteoporosis or low bone mass.

Foundation for Osteoporosis Research and Education
Dedicated to eliminating osteoporosis as a major health problem through education, research and testing aimed at the promotion of bone health and the prevention of osteoporotic fractures in women, men and children

National Osteoporosis Foundation
Provides program and patient info to support and provide public awareness for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis

National Institutes of Health Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases
National Resource Center (NIH ORBD + NRC)
Provides patients, health professionals, and the public with an important link to resources and information on metabolic bone diseases, including osteoporosis, Paget's disease of the bone, osteogenesis imperfecta, and hyperparathyroidism

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Bone Health Campaign
A campaign to promote optimal bone health among girls aged 9–12 years in an effort to reduce their risk of osteoporosis later in life.

Doctor’s Guide - Patient Resources: Osteoporosis
Provides current medical information, news and links for patients diagnosed with osteoporosis

Asian American Senior Citizens Services Center – Santa Ana, CA
Provides community health and mental health information to service senior citizens residents in Santa Ana, CA

Lao Family Community of Stockton, Inc. – Stockton, CA
Promotes economic development and self sufficiency of SE Asian community

Disclaimer:
NAWHO provides this list of resources for general information only and appearance of a Web site link here does not imply endorsement by NAWHO of the external Web site's content or the views and opinions of the external Web site's sponsoring organization. Once you link to another site, you are subject to the policies of the new site. NAWHO's web site and its content are for informational purposes only, and are not meant to serve as medical advice or to replace consultation with your physician or health care professional.