House Passes Resolution Supporting Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention
On May 21, the House passed, by voice vote, a resolution supporting “National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month.”
Sponsored by Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV), the resolution contains a number of findings, including:
osteoporosis is a disease characterized by low bone mass, structural deterioration of bone, and increased susceptibility to fractures, and is a public health threat for an estimated 44 million Americans;
10 million individuals in the United States already have osteoporosis and an estimated 34 million more are estimated to have low bone mass, thus placing them at an increased risk for osteoporosis;
building strong bones during childhood and adolescence, eating a balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, and pursuing a healthy lifestyle with no smoking or excessive alcohol intake can be the best defense against developing osteoporosis later in life; and
the surgeon general believes that bone health is critically important to the overall health and quality of the life of Americans.The resolution “urges the people of the United States to observe appropriate programs and activities with respect to osteoporosis, including talking with their health care professionals about their bone health.”
