The deputy head of the Osteoporosis Foundation Committee of the Chinese Development Foundation for Science and Technology, Zhu Hanmin, said the population's aging is resulting in increased occurrence of the disease.

Speaking at the 2004 International Osteoporosis conference on Thursday he said the number of Chinese over the age of 60 will rise to 200 million by 2015 -- 14 percent of the total population.

A study involving more than 55,000 people aged 20 and over revealed a prevalence of osteoporosis of 16.1 percent. In the group aged over 40, 16.1 percent of men and 19.9 percent of women had the disease. In the group aged 60 and above the prevalence was 15 percent in men and 28.6 percent in women.

Zhu said China is a developing country and has to encourage healthy lifestyles through education to help prevent and alleviate osteoporosis and its effects.

Harry K Genant, chairman of the World Health Organization (WHO) Osteoporosis Task Force, said China needs to strengthen the efficacy of diagnosis and treatment.

It is necessary to measure bone mass density in children in order to be able to guarantee normal bone growth and prevent osteoporosis, said John A. Shepherd from the Radiology Department of the University of California at San Francisco.

Osteoporosis is a common disease that causes bones to break easily and heal slowly. It is listed by the WHO as one of the three major health problems of middle-aged and elderly people.

Since 1996, October 20 has been marked annually as World Osteoporosis Day and China has hosted the annual international conference since 2000.

The conference is sponsored by the Chinese Development Foundation for Science and Technology and the Health Ministry's Medical Science and Technology Education Department and Hospital Administration Institute.

(Xinhua News Agency October 22, 2004)