This Week's News About Aging: ghr 15

Aging Americans: Are They What They Eat?

As the U.S. Administration on Aging recognizes "Older Americans Month" during May, new research reveals some startling insights into one of the most essential yet often overlooked factors to vibrant aging -- proper nutrition.

"The survey clearly shows that women are misinformed about the importance of food to their physical and mental health as they age, as well as what foods they should be including in their diets," said Jeanne Goldberg, Ph.D., R.D., Professor of Nutrition and Director of the Center on Nutrition Communication at the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, and member of the Council for Women's Nutrition Solutions (CWNS). More.

Baby Boomers: Make Bone Health A Top Priority
National Osteoporosis Foundation Issues Call To Action

Baby boomers across the nation are being challenged by the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) to take better care of their bones during May - National Osteoporosis Prevention Month. Recent NOF prevalence figures estimate 44 million men and women aged 50 and older have either low bone mass or osteoporosis. By the year 2020, that number will climb to an estimated 61 million if bone health does not become a top priority. More.

Launch of Physical Activity Initiative to Get Americans 50+ Active for Life

AARP and The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) today announced a joint campaign to increase physical activity among Americans age 50 and over.

The launch of Active for LifeTM is based on substantial evidence that regular physical activity reduces the risk of dying prematurely, as well as the risk of high blood pressure, colon cancer, and diabetes. There are escalating health consequences associated with inactivity among older Americans. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), four out of ten Americans age 45-64 are sedentary, increasing to six out of ten for those 75 and older. More.

Upcoming Newsweek Cover Focuses on Botox

The May 13 issue of Newsweek (on newsstands Monday, May 6) will feature "The Business of Botox." Newsweek looks at the next anti-aging weapon to hit doctors' offices and how its makers are gearing up for a $50 million marketing campaign. Sales of the chemical that is used to make forehead lines and crow's feet vanish, could reach $1 billion in the next few years, analysts say. 

Senior Writer David Noonan reports on the Botox craze, the latest weapon in the anti-aging fight. So far, there are 850,000 Botox patients, and its maker, Allergan, just launched a $50 million consumer-ad campaign for the product, which brought in $310 million last year. Analysts say annual sales could reach $1 billion in the next few years. And the biggest target is going to be the roughly 29 million women aged 30-64 with household incomes of $50,000 and up.