Strong Bones for Life: What Women Need to Know About Osteoporosis with Professor Belinda Beck - Part 1

Send us Fan Mail We often think about osteoporosis as something that happens later in life—but Professor Belinda Beck is here to remind us that bone health starts much earlier than we think. In Part 1 of our conversation with Professor Belinda Beck, we get back to the basics of bone health and explore what our bones actually need to stay strong throughout our lives. We chat about how bone develops during childhood and adolescence, why puberty is such an important window for building our “bone bank”, and what happens to bone as we age. We unpack the difference between osteopenia and osteoporosis, what a DEXA scan actually tells us, and why a fracture from something as simple as a fall from standing height—or even a cough—can be an important warning sign. Belinda also busts some common myths around exercise and bone health, explaining why progressive resistance training and appropriate impact loading are so important, why simply walking more may not be enough, and why unloading the body can have such a significant effect on our bones. Plus, we dive into the practical stuff: calcium, vitamin D, diet, caffeine, gravity and even whether your shoes could be affecting the loading your bones receive. And if you missed the opportunity to build your bone bank during adolescence, don't panic—Belinda explains why it is never too late to improve bone, even into older age. This is a fascinating conversation packed with evidence, practical advice and plenty of “I didn't know that!” moments. Here are some helpful links from today's discussion with Professor Belinda Beck: The Onero Academy website (what is ONERO® and how to become an ONERO® provider) https://onero.academy/ Onero® locations map (how to find an ONERO® provider https://onero.academy/locations/ The Bone Clinic website (for Belinda's back story and other resources) https://theboneclinic.com.au/ The ONERO® Summit website (an educational meeting for ONERO® licensees, doctors and patients/the public) https://web.cvent.com/event/b495b09b-d427-4030-8a99-c6a2a5332444/summary The Bone Clinic FB page (where I post information and important advances in the field of bone health in lay terms) https://www.facebook.com/theboneclinic Looking for more Healthy Banter? Check out our website at: https://www.healthybanter.com.au/ or follow us https://www.instagram.com/healthybanter.podcast/