Prevalence of physical activity among adults ³50 years of age with Osteoporosis-12 US States, 2005

Osteoporosis one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among older adults and is characterized by decrease in bone mass per unit volume of bone tissue which decreases bone strength, and predisposing the fragile bones to fracture. It is now recognized that physical activity (PA) is an important determinant of bone strength. This report summarizes physical activity levels from the 2005 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) among adults >50 years of age with Osteoporosis. BRFSS is a state-based telephone survey of the civilian, noninstitutionalized, adults aged >18 years. Physical activity and osteoporosis status from 12 states were analyzed. Respondents were categorized as being regularly active if they engaged in moderate-intensity activity (>30 minutes each time, >5 times/week) or vigorous-intensity activity (>20 minutes each time, >3 times per week). 2.4% of men and 17.8% of women >50 years of age had been diagnosed with Osteoporosis. PA is a common strategy for preventing bone loss and maintaining bone strength, but only 34.7% of men and 38.1% of women with Osteoporosis engaged in regular physical activity. The prevalence of being regularly active among adults with Osteoporosis was 38.8% among non-Hispanic whites, 48.8% among those with a college education, and 44.8% among normal weight adults. These data should be used to guide prevention and research activities to promote physical activity in older adults.