I’ve been working with the U.S. dairy industry for nearly 25 years, and pride myself on regularly consuming three servings of dairy per day. So, I was surprised when my bone density score revealed that I was sliding into osteopenia, but fortunately not osteoporosis. I’m not alone. An estimated 44 million Americans have low bone mass.
Low dairy consumption can impact bone health and nutrient adequacy. It is globally estimated that hip fractures currently affect around 18% of women and 6% of men. As populations age, the worldwide incidence of hip fracture is projected to grow by 310% in men and 240% in women by 2050, compared to rates in 1990. The combination of osteoporosis and sarcopenia is known as osteosarcopenia, which contributes to frailty, poor balance, falls, and fragility fractures.