Association of Physical activity on Bone Mineral Density in Post-Menopausal Women

Osteoporosis with ageing is the most common health complication among post-menopausal women. Low dietary intakes of calcium and life style variables have been associated as a part of aetiology leading to decline bone health. Present longitudinal study examined relation of physical activity level on bone health of post-menopausal women. Post-menopausal women of sedentary and moderate life style were selected from Jabalpur city. Anthropometric measurements, physical activity level, dietary calcium intake and bone mineral density (T-score) were compared for both the group. Data analysed by SPSS 16 version for independent T-test and Pearson correlation. Majority of the post-menopausal women with sedentary life style were falling into obese category (56%) with significantly higher BMI than moderate exercise doing postmenopausal women. Prevalence of osteopenia (38%) and osteoporosis (16%) in sedentary group was significantly more than moderate group women. Higher dietary intake of calcium was noted in moderate working postmenopausal women with non-significant difference. Bone mineral density was positively correlated with calcium intake (r=0.207, p<0.001) and regular exercise (r=0.232, p<0.001).Bone Mineral density correlation with body mass index was found to be non-significant(r=0.158, p<0.515). Therefore, lifestyle modifications can induce favourable changes in bone health in post-menopausal women.