Public health message

Jakarta, IO – Maintaining robust bone health is a lifelong necessity, as bone density naturally peaks around age 30 and begins to decline thereafter. A recent survey conducted by Anlene across 16 Indonesian cities, involving over 400,000 participants, highlighted an alarming trend: the risk of osteoporosis increases by an average of 20 percent every 10 years of age.

To combat this “silent killer,” Anlene is launching the OsteoWalk 10,000 Steps Campaign, encouraging all generations to prioritize prevention through a healthy, active lifestyle.

Osteoporosis weakens bones, making them brittle and highly prone to fractures—a condition that is permanent and irreversible. Prevention is critical, as the disease often presents no symptoms until bone damage has already occurred.

The experience of Mrs Henny Purwanti, 70, serves as a stark reminder. In 2018, despite feeling healthy, she underwent a routine bone scan. “The results were surprising: my bone density was -2, meaning I was at risk for osteoporosis,” she recounted. Although she later began experiencing back pain, she now realizes that prevention requires a lifestyle change.

“I used to be relatively inactive, exercising, and rarely drinking high-calcium milk. Now, although it’s a bit late, I’ve started walking regularly and ensuring my daily intake of calcium and other essential nutrients for my bones,” said Henny.

The Indonesian Osteoporosis Association (Perosi) chairperson Dr. dr. Tirza Z. Tamin, Sp.KFR, a physiatrist, echoed this message.

“Mrs Henny’s story is a reminder that osteoporosis can affect anyone without any obvious early signs,” she said. “Osteoporosis is a silent killer and requires early prevention, so don’t wait until pain or aging occurs.”

She advised the public to “get your bone density checked, get adequate nutrition, and be active every day,” emphasizing that “consistent prevention is key to maintaining freedom of movement into old age.”