‘Curse of skinny people’

Brittle bones – the curse of skinny people

GLAMOROUS and ever youthful TV presenter Anthea Turner, 58, has always prided herself on being conscientious about her health and fitness - so she was shocked to discover that she'd developed osteopenia, a form of decreased bone density.

A precursor to full-blown osteoporosis, osteopenia also leads to weakening of the bones and an increased risk of breaks and fractures. Experts believe the condition's often not detected until the damage is so severe that somebody suffers a break as a result - around 500,000 people receive treatment for fragility fractures each year in the UK.

Turner, who rose to fame presenting Top Of The Pops in the Eighties and hosted Blue Peter for two years in the Nineties, found out following a bone density scan that she had osteopenia in her spine and hip bones. The TV regular - who has competed in physically challenging reality shows Dancing On Ice and The Jump - says the discovery spurred her to make some additional lifestyle changes.

Here, she talks to us about the steps she's taking to reduce her risk of bone fractures, and her battle to rebuild herself following the breakdown of her marriage to businessman Grant Bovey after 13 years together...

How did you feel when you discovered you had osteopenia?

"As someone with a lifelong passion for healthy eating, exercise and wellbeing, I was really shocked. The scan result showed I was at high risk of osteoporosis of the spine and also at risk of a hip fracture. It seemed unfair in a way because I trained as a dancer when I was young and for the past 30 years have always been active. I go the gym three times a week, have never done silly diets, and don't smoke and only drink occasionally. Alcohol and smoking are two of the biggest risk factors for poor bone health. Despite the fact I feel fantastic and don't look or feel my age, the DEXA scan (a special type of X-ray that measures bone mineral density) showed me that bone loss is a silent health issue, that could have a dramatic impact on my life if left undetected or untreated."

Do you know why you developed it?

"Apparently, I'm more at risk because I've been through the menopause, but also because I'm petite. It can be a curse of skinny people and those of us who are inherently small. We don't put our bones under as much stress because we're not carrying a huge amount of weight. Weight bearing - through body weight and impact exercise - apparently helps bones replenish.

"We reproduce our skeleton every 10 years and if we don't have adequate minerals in our diet, our body will effectively take it from our bones, helping to weaken them. A poor diet - especially one low in calcium - can affect bones. Although I eat lots of dairy, which contains calcium - I love milk and cheese - you need Vitamin D to absorb it and sunshine's a prime source of that. As I'm fair skinned and don't want to damage my skin, I've largely avoided the sun."

What lifestyle changes have you made?

"My exercise has largely been dance, Pilates and yoga - but jumping around, high-impact exercise is what I need for bone health, so now I run once a day. I've also started eating more oily fish and kale because they're high in Omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to help maintain good bone density. To turbo-charge my bone health, I take a calcium supplement with vitamin D, derived from marine algae, called LithoLexal Bone Health Osteoporotic.

"Luckily, I've also taken HRT for a long time - frankly since I experienced my first hot flush - and that can help maintain bone density. I can't reverse this problem but I'm doing everything I can to avoid it tipping into osteoporosis."

How can people help themselves stay healthy?

"We're all so conscious of ageing these days, and think about our skin, hair and the outside of our bodies, but we forget that the ageing process is also going on inside. Our skeleton is key in keeping us standing up and moving, so we need to give bones just as much care as our appearance. I'm really saddened and surprised by the lack of responsibility people take for their health, especially when I see people who are abusing their health by being overweight, smoking or not doing any exercise.

"My sister, Ruth, died at 15 (she suffered from spina bifida) and would have given anything for legs that worked so she could run around. That made me feel - if you've been given a good body and you abuse it, shame on you. Value it, don't waste it."

How do you feel now about your marriage breakdown?

"In many ways, I see it as a very positive thing in my life. It was deeply painful at the time but it helped me to change and made me realise I was in the wrong life. At the time, I thought it was perfect so it was a real wake-up call. When it happened, it made me overhaul everything in my life and look at all aspects, including my health and wellbeing, which in a way has made me feel younger, brighter and more in touch. It's been a massive process and battle over the last five years, but I've finally got back to being the person I was before I was married."

Are you looking for love?

"It will have to be quite a guy to turn my head, but I know it will happen. I'm not scared of being on my own - I feel complete as a person - but equally, I believe I won't be on my own forever. I'm looking forward to meeting that amazing man whom I'm confident will one day walk into my life. Currently though, I'm very content and contained and I'd much prefer to be on my own than with the wrong person."

* To check your risk of a fracture, visit sheffield.ac.uk/FRAX/tool.aspx

LithoLexal Bone Health Osteoporotic, £24.95 for 60 tablets, is available from Holland & Barrett (hollandandbarrett.com)