The report also found that:
"We now have clear evidence that in the future more and more aging Americans will develop fractures as a result of low bone mass and osteoporosis. These fractures are going to severely impact a person's ability to live a normal life and will cost our nation significant amounts of money in healthcare costs. We can work to prevent these fractures by gaining a better understanding of the causes of low bone mass and by identifying new therapies to treat osteoporosis and bone loss," noted Endocrine Society President Anthony Means, Ph.D.
Dr. Means also noted that this research will be costly and indicated that both public and private research dollars will be needed to make progress in the future. "Endocrinologists will be conducting the research to help patients understand how they can prevent bone loss as they age. Bone is a major target of sex hormones. The decrease of estrogen after menopause, for example, causes post-menopausal bone loss, which leads to osteoporosis as women age. In addition, bone mineral density is lower in men who are hypogonadal – or have a low level of male sex hormones," explained Dr. Means.
Among its key points, the Surgeon General's report calls upon various stakeholders such as voluntary health organizations, government, industry, and professional associations such as The Endocrine Society and The Hormone Foundation, to take steps to promote bone health. The Hormone Foundation--the patient education affiliate of The Endocrine Society--has developed patient education materials on several areas of endocrinology, including osteoporosis. Most recently, the Foundation released a series of bilingual (English and Spanish) fact sheets titled "Hormones and You," one of which is on osteoporosis. This fact sheet and other useful information on osteoporosis are available on The Hormone Foundation's Web site at www.hormone.org. "The best way to help patients avoid fractures as they age is to educate them about their bone health. The Hormone Foundation is dedicated to providing patients--both directly and through their doctors--with information that can help them learn about prevention and treatment options," explained Dr. Robert Jaffe, President of The Hormone Foundation. "In the future, we will also be looking for ways to partner with other organizations to expand our efforts on this important issue."
The Endocrine Society
Founded in 1916, The Endocrine Society is the world's oldest, largest, and most active organization devoted to research on hormones, and the clinical practice of endocrinology. Endocrinologists are specially trained doctors who diagnose, treat and conduct basic and clinical research on complex hormonal disorders such as diabetes, thyroid disease, osteoporosis, obesity, hypertension, cholesterol and reproductive disorders. Today, The Endocrine Society's membership consists of over 11,000 scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students, in more than 80 countries. Together, these members represent all basic, applied, and clinical interests in endocrinology. The Endocrine Society is based in Chevy Chase, Maryland. To learn more about the Society, and the field of endocrinology, visit the Society's web site at www.endo-society.org.
The Hormone Foundation
Established in by The Endocrine Society as its public education affiliate, The Hormone Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization, dedicated to serving as a resource for the public by promoting the prevention, treatment and cure of hormone-related conditions. Since 1997, the Foundation has developed resources for the public in menopause, osteoporosis, PCOS, breast cancer, diabetes, hormone abuse, obesity and more. For more information visit www.hormone.org.