Of all fall-related fractures, hip fractures cause the greatest number of deaths and lead to the most severe health problems and reduced quality of life. 75 percent of the fractures occur in women, since they have more bone loss, have less dense bones to begin with and in general live longer than men do.

In preventing hip fractures it is important to keep your bones strong and healthy. You should also be active in improving your balance, which can be done by muscle-strengthening exercises, obtain as good vision correction as possible, and do daily balance exercises.

Argument: The World Health Organization predict that there will be 600,000 hip fractures in the US by year 2040.

Questions: Since a hip fracture severely reduces the quality of life, and one in four of the elderly who suffer a hip fracture are dead within one year of their operation, shouldn't there be more effort in informing, young women in particular, on how to prevent osteoporosis at an earlier age?