TV presenter Anthea Turner has called for a national screening programme to help prevent more women developing osteoporosis.
The debilitating bone-thinning condition impacts nearly four million Brits, and almost 80% of sufferers are women.
The effects include heightened risk of bone fractures, immobility and chronic pain which can be devastating and life-changing.
But with the right advice, care and early diagnosis they are entirely avoidable.
Explaining why she is campaigning in this area, Anthea, 64, said: “I am campaigning for a national screening programme to be introduced in the same way it is now normal to be checked for breast or bowel cancer.
“We need screening because it is costing the NHS £2.5 billion a year – that’s £6,849,315 a day – to treat people with a condition which is entirely preventable. Think of the precious resources saved, pain avoided, and deaths prevented.”
Anthea has been moved to campaign after being diagnosed with osteopenia in her 40s, a less serious condition which can eventually lead to greater bone fragility, increased risk of fracture and, if undetected and left untreated, osteoporosis.
She has partnered with top consultant rheumatologist Dr Taher Mahmud, who heads up The London Osteoporosis Clinic, to share her experiences.
She has also taken on an advisory role with the Global Osteoporosis Foundation to lobby for greater public awareness, a national screening programme and better health professional advice about the range of ways osteoporosis can be avoided.
Anthea’s condition was diagnosed during routine health screening prior to filming a television show. Until then she had no idea she had osteopenia, or that it could become much more serious.
She said: “After my condition came to light, I made an appointment with my GP, but the best he could offer was some calcium supplements and general health lifestyle advice such as, don’t smoke, don’t drink too much, eat healthily. I’m not a smoker or a drinker and I’ve always had a healthy approach to eating. I asked if anything could be done, and he said no, and just to keep my fingers crossed that it didn’t get any worse. I was in my late 40s and probably perimenopausal, but back then no one talked about it and my doctor didn’t mention the correlation between the menopause and bone thinning. Osteoporosis was just treated as an aspect of aging, like grey hair or needing reading glasses.”
Luckily, for Anthea after she’d mentioned her osteopenia in a health article, it was picked up by Gary Rhodes, the owner of Bone Strong Leeds. He in turn introduced Anthea to Dr Mahmud at the London Osteoporosis Clinic, which helps patients manage and, in many cases, reverse their osteoporosis.
The treatment plan they create includes DEXA Scans to measure bone density, precision blood tests, and essential medications, which combine to create a holistic approach to osteoporosis management and reversal. The programme also includes guidance about weight bearing and resistance exercise, dietary and lifestyle support.
Anthea urges: “Everyone should find out their T-score in the same way you may be knowledgeable about your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. This type of screening, advice and treatment should be available on the NHS, and the relevant bio-markers should be added to routine blood tests, which we’ve all had at some point through our NHS doctors. Research tells us that osteoporotic fractures cost the NHS around £2.5 billion every year, not to mention the disruption and emotional cost to people’s lives, so it is imperative that we know our baseline score and how to improve it”
Anthea says there are also lifestyle changes everyone can help to lessen their risk. She explains: “Like everything good health pays dividends and eating healthily isn’t just about calories, it’s about eating the right foods – avoiding ultra-processed foods, adopting a Mediterranean diet, with plenty of fruit and vegetables, calcium-rich food, and proteins.
“Think of your bones as your body’s bank – if your body is mineral deficient in other areas, it will draw out what it needs from your skeleton so if you’re not making enough deposits your bones become weakened.”
“An analogy which I keep in my head is: if you live to the national average age, the first 40 years are on the house, youth fixes most ills but the next 40, if you want to live an active unrestricted life, you need to put some effort in.
“All women – and men – should be doing some weight-bearing exercises. You don’t need to find an expensive gym, something as simple as three sets of 10-star jumps is a good start and resistance exercises are largely about using your own body weight to do the job. I use ankle weights and a weighted vest, so I can multitask resistance into my daily chores.”
“When it comes to a woman’s biggest health wakeup call, it’s the menopause, never has there been a better time to overhaul your lifestyle choices. Good health is fundamentally the best way to get through the menopause and thrive. HRT is a wonderful drug, I take it, and have a mirena coil but it’s the cherry on the cake.
Explaining how she is managing her osteopenia she added. “Right now, I’m good. I wouldn’t know I had it. As I’ve aged, I’ve become aware of my mortality.
“I’ve always moved, and slept well so its food and its provenance which has had the greatest overhaul. I’m not monastic or complicated about it, I just try to eat ‘clean’ it’s the easiest way and within that, make sure I prioritise protein in my diet.”
Anthea’s tips based on her mission to reverse her own risk of osteoporosis:
- Know what you are putting in your mouth. Avoid ultra-processed foods and ask yourself is this going to nourish or hurt me?
- Make food swaps. Switch crisps for nuts, and sugary sweets for a square or two of dark chocolate. Sugar is a destroyer, it will not only damage your bones, but your teeth, hair and skin.
- Not all supplements are equal and you need more than one. Take a good quality calcium and vitamin D supplements with good absorption rates, recommended by professionals you trust.
- Make menopause your wake-up call. Your bone density will diminish rapidly when you reach this milestone.
- Work at it. Resistance and weight bearing exercise will help to strengthen your bones…and keep your weight in check.
- Know your T-score. Have a DEXA scan. You can get these on the NHS, so ask and book a follow up appointment for an interpretation.
- I use a 5k weight vest – 2k ankle weights and 2k wrist weights while walking my dog. Ankle weights on own while running around the house – The multitasking gym of life is often key especially for women but whatever you do keep moving, don’t shuffle, stand up straight and do every movement with balance and purpose.