LAHORE: The World Osteoporosis Day was observed on Monday at a ceremony by the Pakistan Society for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled.

The day is dedicated to raising awareness about the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis, a silent, debilitating and deadly disease which weakens bones and is the leading cause of fragility fractures and disability in older people.

National Action Network Coordinator for the Bone & Joint Decade and Vice-President PSRD Ghazala Hameed said osteoporosis fell under the umbrella of musculoskeletal conditions which was the second leading cause of disability globally, according to the Global Burden of Disease Study.

She said with aging population, rapid urbanization and low levels of vitamin D in younger people, these conditions were on the rise, including osteoporosis.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2014