By NOF, Washington, DC; Wednesday, April 6, 2005

The National Osteoporosis Foundation Announces a “Virtual” Fitness Day

(Washington, D.C.) October 19, 2005 – The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) is joining organizations around the world in recognizing World Osteoporosis Day on October 20th to help raise awareness about the important role of exercise in building peak bone mass and maintaining bone health. 

In the U.S., NOF is hosting a “Virtual” Fitness Day for anyone, anywhere, at anytime to participate in weight-bearing activities that improve bone strength. After completing their chosen activities, participants can visit www.nof.org to share their experiences with our virtual fitness community. NOF hopes this day will help all Americans commit to an active lifestyle.

“This is the first time that NOF has tried this particular activity and we hope that it encourages women and men everywhere to participate on October 20th, but also to focus on the ongoing  importance of weight bearing exercise in maintaining strong bones. By registering for this event, people are also helping support NOF, our mission and programs,” said Judith Cranford, Executive Director of NOF.

An estimated 44 million American men and women ages 50 and older either have or are at risk for osteoporosis, according to NOF prevalence statistics. One in two women and one in four men in this age group will break a bone due to osteoporosis.Osteoporosis, or porous bone, is a disease characterized by low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to bone fragility and an increased susceptibility to fractures, especially of the hip, spine and wrist, although any bone can be affected.

To register for “Virtual” Fitness Day, visit NOF’s Web site at www.nof.org. In support of NOF, registration is $20 and all registrants will receive a “Virtual” Fitness Day t-shirt.

About NOF: Established in 1984, the National Osteoporosis Foundation is the nation’s leading voluntary health organization solely dedicated to osteoporosis and bone health. NOF is working to make bone health a reality and a lifelong priority for all individuals through programs of awareness, public and health professional education, advocacy and research.

The latest

NOF is excited to see another positive calcium study with a large sample size and promising results. A new study to be published in the July 2103 isue of The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism found taking calcium supplements of up to 1,000 mg per day may help women live longer.

Read more about the study.

In honor of National Osteoporosis Month and National Women’s Health Week (http://womenshealth.gov/nwhw), a week-long health observance coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Women’s Health promoting women's health and its importance, the National Osteoporosis Foundation launched Break Free from Osteoporosis, a new national awareness campaign encouraging the 57 million Americans currently with and at-risk of osteoporosis to learn their risk factors for the disease and make lifestyle changes to build strong bones for life.

In response to new prevalence data showing approximately 57 million Americans are affected by osteoporosis and low bone mass, we kicked off a new national awareness campaign to celebrate May as National Osteoporosis Month. Break Free from Osteoporosis encourages the public to get to know their risk factors for osteoporosis and change their lifestyle to build and maintain strong bones.