Sally Field: I was diagnosed a
number of years ago with osteo-
porosis, and I didn’t really know
what it was, but I have a really good
doctor who kept me informed in my
late 40s and into my 50s that I was a
prime candidate to get osteoporosis.
When I did, I was contacted by
Roche and GSK to bring about an
awareness campaign for women
about the dangers of osteoporosis
and the epidemic level it’s on.
One out of two women over 50
will experience an osteoporosis-
related fracture sometime in their
lives. It’s kind of staggeringly
dangerous. I’ve been so enriched to
travel with this program—I’ve trav-
eled all over the country speaking
to large groups of women. It’s been
a remarkable opportunity for me.
of the things you can actually
treat successfully and stay upright
the rest of your life.
Older women have so much
important information to give to
their children, their grandchildren,
their communities and the world.
It’s so incredibly important that
they stay healthy and positive in
themselves to do that.
GH: What proactive and/or preventive measures do you encourage women to take in securing bone health as they hit middle age? SF: Our Web site tries to provide information for women about what they’re looking for—what osteoporosis is, how you might take care of yourself. It’s really encouraging women to ask for and demand bone-density tests. It’s infuriating to many people that a lot of health-care plans don’t include bone-density tests.
Enjoying Prime Time: (Below and right) Sally Field as the family matriarch, Nora Walker, on the hit ABC drama “Brothers and Sisters.” (Far below) As mom in real life, seen with son Samuel.
GH: You also offer health tips on the community-oriented “Rally with Sally” Web site BoneHealth.com. What does it mean to you to pass on your advice and knowledge? SF: I feel good about it, because
I know when I was entering this part of my life, I just felt there wasn’t enough information for me to understand what was happening, and how I should stay healthy and take care of myself.
Our baby boomer generation is different from the generation before us, not only because the whole world has changed and health care has changed, but I don’t think we want to just stand by and be patted on the head and told, “That’s what it’s like when you get older, honey.” You don’t have to be that little bent-over woman. You don’t have to experience a hip fracture or, God forbid, a fracture of the spine. This is one
SF: She’s really doing great. But, again, hers is the generation that just sort of takes whatever they are told and wants to be a good patient and really not question anything. I think that’s the behavior that is changing. I think that all people—men and women, young and old—have to go to their health-care provider armed with information. Until we get a health-care system that works better than the one that we have now, you really can’t put your life or your destiny in anybody else’s hands.
Insurance companies won’t pay to give these tests to women under the age of 50. Well, I needed those
PHOTOS, TOP TO BOT TOM: ABC/SCOT T GARFIELD; ALBERTO E. RODRIGUEZ/GET TY IMAGES
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