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REMARKS BY:

Tommy G. Thompson, Secretary of Health and Human Services

PLACE:

HHS Auditorium

DATE:

October 14, 2004

Surgeon General's Report on Bone Health and Osteoporosis

Thank you, Dr. Carmona. And let me just say much I appreciate your good work. You do an outstanding job as Surgeon General.

The Surgeon General is America's chief health educator. And Surgeon General reports have always played a critical role in promoting good health and safety.

In 1964, for example, the first Surgeon General's report on smoking announced medical research showing that smoking was a definite cause of lung cancer. At the time, this was ground-breaking information. And the Surgeon General's endorsement gave it significant credibility and public attention.

Today, the need for good public health education has not changed. And Dr. Carmona remains committed to issuing reports that compile the best available science on important medical subjects. Bone health is one subject that needs more public attention.

Strong bones are critical to our overall health and quality of life. Yet today, far too many Americans suffer from bone disease and fractures. An estimated 10 million Americans over age 50 have osteoporosis, while another 34 million are at risk. Thankfully, scientists have learned a lot about the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of bone disease. If we can get more information out to the public and the medical community, then osteoporosis and bone fractures will no longer be thought of as an inevitable part of growing old.

This report on bone health and osteoporosis presents several significant findings. Most important, the report explains that while osteoporosis manifests itself in our later years, the problem actually begins many years earlier. The Surgeon General recommends what teenagers should do when their bones are growing rapidly to ensure they remain strong throughout life. Specifically, teenagers should consume plenty of calcium and vitamin D and get plenty of weight-bearing exercise. And these healthy practices should continue throughout our lives.

This finding confirms our decision to stress disease prevention in everything our Department does. As with many other chronic diseases, we can avoid much of the damaging impact of bone disease by changing our exercise and nutrition habits and by getting preventive screenings. In this case, if you break a bone after the age of 50, you should talk to your doctor about getting a bone density test.

The report also counters the notion that osteoporosis is solely a women's issue. While the risk of osteoporosis is highest among women, men are also at risk and need to take steps to strengthen their bones.

These and other important findings are detailed in the Surgeon General's 400-page report. But I also want to call your attention to this "people's piece" that we've produced. As you can see, this booklet says, "What it means to you."

This is an example of our efforts to advance health literacy-to make it easier for everyday Americans to learn important health information. Such efforts are a critical piece of good public health education, and I want to thank Dr. Carmona for his leadership in this area. I am proud to have him on my team.

Friends, weak bones and osteoporosis don't have to be a part of aging. This report will go a long way in communicating that message to our citizens and the medical community. By changing the way we look at bone health in America, we can change behaviors and contribute to a more healthy and hopeful future for all.

Now Dr. Carmona will share more detail on his report's findings. Dr. Carmona?

Last Revised: October 14, 2004

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