A medical expert, Dr Khadijat Raji, has advised people to engage in regular exercise and increase their intake of calcium in order to prevent Osteoporosis. She said that though, the disease was associated with old age, it could be prevented Raji however, said that Osteoporosis-weakness of the bones could be hereditary or caused by environmental factors.

Raji said this on Sunday at the Ramadan Health talk organized for Women Islamic groups by the wife of Kwara governor, Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed's pet project - LEAH Charity Foundation.

I am a gynecologist and the disease falls within the ambit of Orthopedics but any medical expert can speak on it. "Regular exercise will help to prevent the disease and adequate intake of calcium or Vit. D supplement.

"The actual cause of Osteoporosis in women is the decrease in estrogen level at menopause as well as when the ovary is removed which also reduces the estrogen level.

"Other factors are hereditary - people from family with weak bones and environmental factor like smoking and alcohol can also cause it", she said.

The medical expert, however, said that the chances of suffering from the disease were higher in both male and female as they advanced in age.

"The bones begin to age after 35 years and that is why it is advisable to engage in regular exercise that will make it active and take adequate calcium", she added.

Culled from The Herald