Monash University’s Professor Peter Ebeling raises awareness of bone health for World Osteoporosis Day

Michael Clarke, Prof Peter Ebeling,
Sally Pearson

Understanding the prevalence and risk factors of osteoporosis is the focus of “Know Your Bones”, an official report launched last week at Capital Hill, Canberra as part of World Osteoporosis Day.

Launched by the Minister for Health, the Hon Greg Hunt MP and the Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care, the Hon Ken Wyatt AM MP, the report is a joint initiative of Osteoporosis Australia of which Professor Peter Ebeling AO is Medical Director, and the Garvan Institute of Medical Research. 

“The report provides an invaluable insight for our parliamentarians and policy makers into the state of Australian’s bone health and outlines the prevalence of osteoporosis in Australia,” said Professor Ebeling, Head of Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University.

“Know YourBones was developed to help Australians understand their risk of poor bone health and discuss any risks identified with their doctor.”

“Currently over 165,000 broken bones (fractures) are occurring each year in Australia due to poor bone health and we know many of these broken bones could and should be prevented.”

Professor Ebeling, who is also a Monash Health endocrinologist, said the solution is taking action, which means consumers understanding their risk, doctors investigating people at risk, capturing people after a first fracture to diagnose osteoporosis, managing their bone health and preventing repeat fractures.

“Australia has one of the world’s poorest rates for identifying and treating osteoporosis with 80 per cent of women who have a broken bone and who would qualify for osteoporosis treatment, neither investigated nor diagnosed,” Professor Ebeling said.

National World Osteoporosis Day Ambassadors, Sally Pearson OAM (Olympic Gold Medallist and World Champion Hurdler) and Michael Clarke (Former Australian Cricket Captain and World Cup Champion) were at the launch in Canberra to highlight the prevalence of osteoporosis in Australia and promote the critical message that together with a health professional, osteoporosis can be prevented through diet, exercise and importantly, an increased awareness around the main risk factors.