Bone Health Arabia

We are a virtual community founded by Anlene and we come from all walks of life. What brought us together is our passion for raising awareness of bone health and osteoporosis in the Middle East. We are supported by the Anlene team across the region, as well as by a group of inspirational and successful women living in the Middle East who have a common goal to raise awareness about the myths and realities around bone health and osteoporosis in the Middle East.

We want to raise awareness about bone health and help those living in the Middle East fight osteoporosis, often referred to as the ‘silent disease’. There is a general lack of understanding of osteoporosis - which will affect one in three women and one in five men across the region - and we are here to change that through in-depth discussion and engagement with various communities.

Since 2005, Fonterra, Anlene’s parent company, has conducted more than 5 million bone scans in Asia and the Middle East, as part of our research programme to raise awareness of the growing incidence of osteoporosis in the region. The data secured provides valuable insights into the state of our bone health. In the GCC alone, we have scanned more than 125,000 women and this number is growing rapidly.

Over 190,000 people in the GCC now aware of the 'silent disease'

Anlene’s bone scanning programme alerts women to the dangers of osteoporosis. One in three women in UAE at risk of developing painful and debilitating disease

More than 190,000 people across the GCC have been assessed to see if they are at risk of developing the devastating disease osteoporosis, thanks to the free Bone Health Check programme offered by Anlene, the brand of dairy products specially formulated for adults to help build healthy bones and prevent osteoporosis.

In the UAE alone, 70,000 men and women over the age of 21 from all backgrounds and nationalities have taken advantage of the painless ultrasound assessment, which provides information on bone health and bone quality. Anlene wants to encourage women in particular to take action to equip themselves with the knowledge to help prevent the onset of the disease, as prevention is currently the only cure. At the same time the brand is constantly looking for new ways to increase the participation and reach of its Bone Health Check programme across the GCC.

Osteoporosis is particularly common amongst women, and is a disease often overlooked by society or regarded as just affecting older generations. Staggeringly, one in three women in the UAE over 50 could experience osteoporotic fractures. After a hip fracture, 20 percent of cases can be fatal and 50 percent cause permanent disability.

Dr. Humeira Badsha, Rheumatology Specialist in Dubai, and an Anlene Bone Health Ambassador, says these figures show a step in the right direction for osteoporosis-awareness. “The Middle East region has one of the poorest bone health records anywhere in the world and women need to take the initiative to get their bones scanned to ensure they are giving themselves every opportunity to help prevent osteoporosis.

"It is very sad that with one in three women at risk of developing the disease, most women in the region will find that a friend or family member will be affected by the disease, even if they take measures to protect their own bone health."

To find out more visit www.bonehealtharabia.com