News

Osteoporosis Specialist to Speak at Galway Health & Wellbeing Event

Michele O’Brien, National Health Promotion Officer with the Irish Osteoporosis Society, will be one of the speakers at the Health and Wellbeing event to take place in Claregalway, Co Galway on Thursday 7th May, 2009. Organised by the National Dairy Council in partnership with Arrabawn Co-op, the event will be held at The Claregalway Hotel – doors open 7.30pm, starting at 8.00pm sharp – with proceeds from the evening going to raise funds for the charity, Croi.

The Health and Wellbeing evening also features leading independent nutritionist Paula Mee who will discuss the Nutrient Richness of Dairy (New Research Updates), a presentation on skincare, from the inside out, from Biotherm Area Manager Silvanna Landa and delicious samples of dairy products from Arrabawn Co-op.

Osteoporosis is Preventable

Osteoporosis is the world’s leading bone disease and affects people of all age groups, including children. In Ireland, it affects one in two women and one in five men over fifty. It is known as the ‘silent disease’ as the majority of people have no pain until they fracture, however it is estimated that only 15% of those affected are diagnosed.

Osteoporosis is a disease which is preventable and treatable in the majority of people. At the Health & Wellbeing event in The Claregalway Hotel, Michele O’Brien will give a presentation on what is osteoporosis, what is osteopenia and what the risk factors are. Dispelling the myths about osteoporosis, Michele will look at the importance of nutrition, weight bearing exercises and fall prevention in leading a “bone healthy” lifestyle.

Conor Ryan CEO of Arrabawn adds “Calcium plays a key role in bone health, and unfortunately, insufficient intakes are quite prevalent in Ireland. As more than 90% of the body’s total calcium content is present in the bones and teeth, Arrabawn Dairies offer you food that is high in calcium which is essential to healthy bone development.”

Michele O'Brien

From Dublin, Michele holds a degree in Physiotherapy from Harcum College in Pennsylvania, USA. She lived in the USA for 14 years and set up a Fall Prevention Clinic when she first returned to Ireland. This was a service to help senior citizens prevent falls in their homes and to help them maintain their independence by reducing the risk of a fracture. Michele joined the Irish Osteoporosis Society charity in 2002 where she organises lectures and health promotions, liaises with public and health care professionals, organises workshops for specialists groups such as home economics teachers and helps with fundraising and communications.

A booklet about Osteoporosis is also available free of charge. For information about where to download the guide, visit www.3aday.ie or www.ndc.ie; or for a printed copy, call the Osteoporosis Society at 1890 252 751 or the NDC on 01-6169726.

 

For further information contact:

NDC: Antonina Ni Dhuinn, Progress Communications - 01-276 6117 - nina@progresspr.ie
Arrabawn Co-op: Pamela Finn, Think PR - 087-900 4145 - info@thinkpr.ie
Irish Osteoporosis Society: Niall McLoughlin, IOS Chief Executive - 01-667 4267