Necessary Improvements in Diet and Physical Activity Levels among Middle-Aged or Older Women for the Prevention of Osteoporosis and Locomotive Syndrome

Abstract

Due to the aging population in Japan, the ratio of elderly women requiring care for musculoskeletal disorders is growing rapidly. Therefore, it is important for women to make efforts to maintain healthy bone, muscle, joint, and nerve function to prevent osteoporosis and locomotive syndrome. In this study, we conducted a questionnaire survey on 327 middle-aged or older women (100 in their forties, 107 in their fifties, and 120 in their sixties) to investigate their knowledge and recognition of locomotive syndrome, their past and present exercise habits, and their present dietary habits and levels of daily activity. Based on their responses, the recognition of locomotive syndrome was lowest, at 33.0%, among those in their forties, and tended to increase with age, peaking at 46.6% among those in their sixties ; however, the knowledge of locomotive syndrome was low in all age groups. In addition, 71.9%, 69.8%, and 57.5% of the respondents in their forties, fifties, and sixties, respectively, re-ported having regular exercise habits during their school days, while 26.8%, 30.5%, and 46.2%, respectively, reported presently having regular exercise habits. Regarding level of daily activity, those in their forties and fifties reported having a low number of daily steps, suggesting that they were somewhat unfit. Half of all respondents reported that they consumed dairy products daily, while the other half consumed them less frequently. Furthermore, the frequency of natto (fermented soybeans) and green leafy vegetable intake was especially low among those in their forties. These results indicate that in order to promote not only the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases, but also the maintenance of healthy bone, muscle, joint, and nerve function for the prevention of osteoporosis and locomotive syndrome, middle-aged women in their forties and older need to increase their daily consumption of dairy and soy products and green leafy vegetables, as well as their level of physical activity. These changes can be expected to bring about improvements in healthy life expectancy.