Some Women Resist Bone Health Measures

Women who learn about osteoporosis will change behavior to improve bone health, unless they refuse to change due to health beliefs, U.S. researchers found.

Women who learn about osteoporosis will change behavior to improve bone health, unless they refuse to change due to health beliefs, U.S. researchers found. University of Arkansas researchers found a high percentage of women who participated in educational intervention for osteoporosis had low initial bone density readings but improved bone health by the study’s conclusion by making changes such as eating calcium-rich foods or increasing physical activity. Some, mostly educated women, however, showed lower bone density readings at the study’s end than its start, because they did not change behavior out of deep distrust of conventional medicine and doctors. Instead, they trusted health food products and alternative medicine, researchers said. “There exists a vocal group of women who are very anti-physician,” said Lori Turner, the study’s lead author. “They think doctors are evil and medicine is poison — that even dairy (foods are) poison.” (Source: United Press International, June 2004)