Improve the Nation's Nutrition and Health
Bone Builders Program Fights Osteoporosis

Impact Nugget
The collaborative Bone Builders osteoporosis prevention program focuses on education and screening: in 2004 Bone Builders partners screened 1,050 women with ultrasound technology on a volunteer basis; one million people were reached with education, materials, displays and media; and the Web site www.bonebuilders.org had 12,067 visitors, with 447,141 hits or 33 visitors per day.

Issue
It is estimated that one out of every two women over 50 will develop osteoporosis. Older men have also been identified as possibly at risk. This silent disease weakens bones, eventually causing fractures, disability and loss of quality of life for millions of people, especially the elderly. It is the number two reason for women's admissions into nursing homes. More than 28 million Americans who have osteoporosis or at high risk because of low bone mass; 80 percent of those affected are women. Although osteoporosis is both treatable and preventable, studies show that awareness is quite low among the U.S. population. Simple changes in diet and exercise can improve calcium levels in the body and strengthen bones before osteoporosis occurs. With the large baby boom generation now moving into the beginning life stage susceptible to osteoporosis, education and prevention is more important than ever.

What has been done?
A collaborative program called “Bone Builders” was developed as part of the University of Arizona partnership between Cooperative Extension in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the UA College of Public Health. The program brings together several public and private partners to reduce risk for osteoporosis statewide among women over 25 and men over 65 by increasing their awareness of the risks of osteoporosis and ways to prevent it from developing. The program recruits and retains community peer educators who teach local, community classes, and seeks to identify high risk women in each community and encourage them to get basic x-ray or ultrasound screening for bone density. In fall 2001, new funding allowed Bone Builders to concentrate more time teaching food stamp eligible women. Over three years of funding, more than 198 volunteers and staff were trained. The Web site, www.bonebuilders.org, was developed. Bone Builders displays were featured at health fairs, community fairs, health spas, statewide conferences and community libraries.

A new Bone Builders senior physical activity program was begun for inactive seniors in Tucson and Phoenix and at 10 senior centers in 2003. The program received the Preister Extension Health Award in April 2003 from USDA-CSREES, and an award from the City of Phoenix in December, 2003.

Impact
In 2004 Bone Builders partners screened 1,050 women with ultrasound technology on a volunteer basis. Eight county projects taught 3,085 people at 192 classes, and 1,012 people received one-on-one instruction. Thirty-five health fairs reached 7,645 people with information on osteoporosis prevention. A total of one million people were reached with education, materials, displays and media. A sample of 1513 class participants statewide in 2003 rated their class as 4.5 (out of 5 point schedule with 5 excellent).

The Web site www.bonebuilders.org had 12,067 visitors in 2004, with 447,141 hits or 33 visitors per day, with an average of 37 hits per visit.

Funding
UA Cooperative Extension
UA College of Public Health
County Department of Public Health Services
Dairy Council of Arizona
Arizona Department of Agriculture
Arizona Osteoporosis Coalition
Scottsdale Health Care
Phoenix Center for Clinical Research
Arizona Department of Health Services
Arizona Nutrition Network

Contact
Sharon Hoelscher Day, Extension Educator
University of Arizona, Maricopa County Cooperative Extension
4341 E. Broadway, Phoenix, AZ 85040-8807
Telephone: (602) 470-8086, ext. 332 FAX: (602) 470-8092
Email: shday@ag.arizona.edu

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