D

strong>Dec. 13, p9

The Indonesian Osteoporosis Association (Perosi) and the Indonesian Healthy Bone Foundation (Perwatusi) have warned of the lack of awareness of the danger of osteoporosis among urban residents.

Perosi chairman Nicolaas Budhiparama, who is also an orthopedic doctor, said that although updated data on osteoporosis was not available, he had treated younger patients with bone problems.

According to Perosi'€™s 2005 data, two out of every five people in Indonesia suffer from osteoporosis.

Your comments:

Many Indonesians do not drink milk or account for vitamins in their diet. As long as there is a general ignorance of the importance of a correct diet, there will be problems like this.

The government should start a public awareness campaign to educate the public about the importance of such things as eating too much sugar and fried foods, eating vegetables and drinking milk.

I know that this will be hard to do as the poor population can hardly afford to control their diet.

Charles Jarret

When I see young children spending much of their time watching television or playing computer games, I can only imagine osteoporosis will be affecting them at an earlier age.

Husnul Khotimah

Milk and cheese are good sources of calcium. Rice and soybeans are not. There is another factor not mentioned: lack of vitamin D.

The obsessions marketed to people daily on TV should also be factored in, along with the fact that most activities of young people appear to revolve around being inside '€” in the mall.

John Elliott

When I see young children going to the local shop by motorcycle, I can only imagine osteoporosis will be affecting them even earlier again.

Ketoprak