Beat osteoporosis: boogie for your bones

Read Dr Miriam Stoppard's advice on osteoporosis - and watch Craig Revel Horwood dance

Osteoporosis affects one in two women over the age of 50 - and one in five men of the same age.

You can find out whether you may be at risk of developing osteoporosis by clicking here to assess how strong your bones are.

Bone density is set by the age of 25, so it's very important that young people take lots of weight-bearing exercise.

The National Osteoporosis Society has launched a fun, new dance workout to encourage us all to 'boogie for our bones', with the charity's patron, exercise guru Lizzie Webb.

As Dr Miriam Stoppard, who helped to develop the routine with Craig Revel Horwood, says: 'If you haven't banked a lot of bone, you're a candidate for osteoporosis from 50 onwards. There's a natural softening of the bones as we get older.'

However, a key point to remember is that no matter what your age, and even if you have developed osteoporosis, you can halt its progress. Dr Stoppard explains: 'There's loads of research that shows you can stop it getting worse at any time in your life. Exercise is the most important thing you can do. People who exercise three times a week have less osteoporosis than people who exercise twice a week, who have less osteoporosis than people who exercise once a week.

'Eat a healthy diet with calcium-rich foods including dairy and broccoli, and make sure you get plenty of vitamin D so the body can use that calcium,' says Dr Stoppard. 'Get weight-bearing exercise into your life,' she continues. And if you're not a fan of dancing? 'Walking's fine,' says Dr Stoppard, who's wearing smart, shiny trainer-style shoes. 'I wear trainers all the time. I work in Canary Wharf twice a week; I walk to Tower Bridge which is five miles.' And one final tip: 'Standing is better than sitting. I take all my phone calls standing.'

Now watch Craig Revel Horwood show you how to do the 'boogie for your bones' dance. It's a fun routine that anyone can learn. Craig says it's his first performance since he retired from professional dancing...

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