IT’S NEVER TOO EARLY TO PROTECT YOURSELF

It was only when Carina Parkinson, 35, started running marathons for the National Osteoporosis Society after her mum was diagnosed with the condition that she realised that she, too, was at risk of brittle bones.

‘My mum developed awful back pain when she was in her 40s. Some of the bones in her back had crumbled and she had lost inches in height. We realised my grandma also had osteoporosis. I understood then that I was at high risk and when I had a bone scan five years ago, my bones were like those of a 40 year old, so I changed my diet and started doing more exercise. I feel lucky that I had the wake-up call at an age when I can still build up my bones.’