Optimizing Women’s Health Over the Lifespan: Why Body Composition, Bone Health and Fitness Matter

Bone loss is a significant public health burden, with low bone mass affecting nearly all post-menopausal women. The Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation (BHOF) reports that over 10 million Americans have osteoporosis with 40-50 million at risk due to low bone mass. Bone deterioration culminates in fractures, shortened stature, disability, and premature morbidity and mortality. Low bone mass is under-diagnosed, despite the availability of preventive screening. Maximal bone mass acquisition is optimized during early adulthood in females after which bone remodeling can no longer replace old bone. Reducing women's bone loss burden requires recommendations that improve overall health, <i>maximize</i> optimal bone mass during adulthood and <i>minimize</i> loss of bone following menopause. Total body composition, measurable by DXA (Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry), and maximum aerobic capacity (MAC) can reduce premature morbidity. Prevention strategies involve regular DXA screening beginning in adolescence to monitor whole body composition accompanied by cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) assessment. DXA scans are now the gold standard for quantifying body composition metrics. Counseling by the Lifestyle Medicine provider should accompany and explain these evaluations. Whole-body DXA monitoring as well as fitness assessment throughout life, can provide women with improved awareness of health metrics and improve overall quality of life outcomes.