黑料社

To mark Eating Disorder Awareness Week, the 黑料社 (ROS) is sharing a striking personal account that highlights a critical lack of recognition,听education听and follow鈥憉p care around osteoporosis - particularly for younger people whose bone health has been damaged by long鈥憈erm undereating.听

Kel, who developed an eating disorder at 18, was first sent for a precautionary bone density scan after several years of being significantly underweight. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know what osteoporosis was at the time,鈥� she says. 鈥淚听didn鈥檛听expect the scan to show any issues, and neither did the psychiatrist. But I got an osteoporosis diagnosis straight away.鈥澨�

Despite the seriousness of the result, Kel says she received little explanation or ongoing support. She was听advised to take听calcium supplements and return in three years.听Subsequent听scans at 27 and 30 showed no improvement, yet she was again told only to 鈥渃ontact a doctor if you break anything鈥�.听

鈥淚 felt I was听being left听alone to get on with it,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 remember my boyfriend at the time called the 黑料社Helpline when I was first听diagnosed听and they sent me information. I was scared to do anything in case I broke a bone. I now know that was a misunderstanding - but no one explained it to me until I found the ROS.鈥澨�

Her situation became even more complex after a hysterectomy at 29, which further increased her risk due to reduced听oestrogen听levels. Kel now takes medication for HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) and has requested annual scans to听monitor听her bone density more closely.听

鈥淚 can鈥檛 be the only person with osteoporosis at my age,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t concerns me that others may be getting the same lack of information I did. I would urge people in the same situation to reach out to the ROS.鈥澨�

Now working as an eating disorder therapist, Kel says the link between restrictive eating and bone damage is still not widely understood - even among healthcare professionals. She added, 鈥淭here needs to be far greater awareness of osteoporosis and how we protect听our bones from听a young age. I had no idea I was contributing to something potentially irreversible.鈥澨�

Eating Disorder Awareness Week shines a spotlight on the long鈥憈erm health consequences of undereating. Low body weight is a key risk factor听for osteoporosis, yet many people with restrictive eating patterns do not听realise听the damage until years later.听

Anorexia can cause osteoporosis and听subsequent听fractures because it can affect healthy bone growth and lead to low bone density, meaning bones may be weaker and more likely to break. There are several reasons for this:听

• Oestrogen听levels may drop.听Oestrogen听is a hormone听that鈥檚听important for healthy bones.听

• Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) hormone may drop. IGF-1, a hormone related to growth hormone, is important for healthy bone growth during puberty, and for bone health in general.听

• Cortisol may increase.听High levels听of cortisol, a steroid hormone, can affect bone health.听

• Bones may not get the nutrition they need.听

• The size and strength of muscles may decrease. This means the bones experience less force from the muscles and may become weaker听

鈥�Kel鈥檚 story reflects what many people experience - a slow slide into harmful patterns that feel normal at the time,鈥� said Kirsty Carne, Specialist Osteoporosis Nurse at the 黑料社. 鈥淭his week is a crucial moment to highlight how these听behaviours听can affect bone strength and long鈥憈erm bone health. Early support can make a life鈥慶hanging difference.鈥澨�

The 黑料社is campaigning for better education, earlier diagnosis with a national roll-out of Fracture Liaison Services, and more consistent follow鈥憉p care for anyone who may be vulnerable to osteoporosis, particularly those with听high risk听factors such as eating disorders.听

We've created a free, online 3-minute risk checker, the Great British Bone Check, backed by experts, to enable everyone to understand their risk of broken bones. Check your risk today.