Anlene To Carry Out 7 Million Bone Health Checks Across Asia, Middle East

By Tengku Noor Shamsiah Tengku Abdullah SINGAPORE, Dec 13 (Bernama) -- Asia's leading adult milk brand, Anlene, announced its commitment to carry out a record seven million Bone Health Checks across Asia and the Middle East over the next year. The Anlene Bone Health Check programme is run across the region and provides millions of people with free bone scans to help them understand more about bone health. Fonterra Managing Director Asean/MENA Mark Wilson said this commitment builds on Anlene’s ongoing efforts to help raise awareness about the importance of bone health. “Anlene has been working to raise awareness and generate interest in bone health for more than a decade – we initiated our regional Anlene Bone Health Check in 1999 and have provided free bone scans to more than 13 million people in the last five years alone.” According to data analysed from the Anlene Bone Health Check, by the age of 35, one in three people in Asia are classified as at medium – high risk of developing osteoporosis. “Raising awareness about bone health and highlighting the simple lifestyle and nutrition choices that people can make to prevent osteoporosis is essential in helping to reduce the prevalence of this crippling disease in Asia and the Middle East,” said Wilson. In a statement, Fonterra said Thursday’s announcement follows the International Osteoporosis Foundation’s (IOF) 3rd Asia Pacific Osteoporosis Meeting, held in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday. The meeting was graced by regional Anlene ambassador and bone health advocate, Hong Kong-based Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh. In her address at the meeting, Yeoh called out for people across the region to take three essential steps for better bone health. International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) Chief Executive Officer Judy Stenmark said that Osteoporosis was a major health problem across Asia and the low calcium and vitamin D intake levels, are among the key contributing factors. “More needs to be done to raise awareness of this disease throughout Asia,” she said. “The incidence of hip fracture has already risen two to three fold in most Asian countries during the past 30 years and we expect that by 2050 more than 50 per cent of all osteoporotic fractures will occur in Asia. In addition, IOF experts have identified low levels of calcium intake and inadequate vitamin D throughout the region. This has serious implications for the region’s bone health, now and in the future.” -- BERNAMA