KNOW YOUR BONES!

Ita Buttrose says one simple test can change your entire quality of life

- Amber Bramble

She educated an entire generation of Cleo readers about women's sexual health and empowerment in the '70s, and Ita Buttrose has continued to spread the word about important issues of the day ever since.

Now she has a new message for Aussie women - if we want to stay healthy, we can't ignore our bones. As an ambassador for The Big O, the media icon is on a mission to get us talking about bone density scans.

"Good health, particularly as we get older is so important because it allows us to continue to do all the things we want to do," she tells Woman's Day. "But it's very hard to get away from the fact that 40 per cent of people over 70 have never had a bone density scan."

While Ita says that most Australians know about osteoporosis, they often mistakenly think it won't affect them. "Two in three Australians over the age of 70 are at risk of osteoporosis," she explains. "You can't assume it won't happen to you."

DO I NEED A SCAN?

Osteoporosis can happen to anyone, including men. However, the risks increase for women as they reach their 50s. "As we get older, our bones become more fragile and we lose oestrogen after menopause. All of these things have an impact," says Ita.