About the project

"We're a group of young women who see a problem we want to help prevent - osteoporosis. You can help by browsing this website, or reading our brochure or our ads on the train." -Mimi, 17, Advisory Group member

"In addition to all the great things this project gave me - like meeting new people and trying new things - I learned about osteoporosis. I hope you get at least as much out of this website as I did!" -Rita, 16, Advisory Group member

"It's very important that each and every young woman shares this information with someone else." -Jheanell, 17, Advisory Group member

Healthy Girls, Healthy Women, a project of The Medical Foundation, aims to help young women prevent osteoporosis through nutrition and physical activity. Two diverse groups of Boston-area young women, ages 13-25, have spent one year learning about osteoporosis and health campaigns in order to guide the development of this website, an educational brochure, MBTA and newspaper advertisements, and other related materials.

Here's what advisory group members had to say about the project:

"At the age of 23 I thought the last thing I'd need to worry about is osteoporosis…But I've learned it's preventable by building strong bones now. It may be a challenge to make small, healthy changes now, but it's worth it as we grow older." -Kai, 23, Advisory Group member

"While being a part of this project my Nana was told she has osteoporosis - she hurt her knee without any warning, and now she's using crutches. I think other young women need to know what osteoporosis is, how it starts, and how you can prevent it." -Sherly, 15, Advisory Group member

"The project helped me make better decisions about my eating habits - now I look for calcium on the Nutrition Facts label." -Chris, 24, Advisory Group member

"Before this project I never realized how important it was to eat healthy and get physical activity. Thanks for the opportunity to educate myself and others about how to live a better and healthier lifestyle." -Nancy, 25, Advisory Group member

"Osteoporosis is a disease that any male or female can get - so the best way to avoid it is to eat foods with calcium and stay physically active." -Bie, 15, Advisory Group member

"The project has given me a chance to explore different activities, like aqua aerobics and kickboxing, and to try new foods too. We've also learned how the advertising market works through the media campaign we've helped to create." -Rita, 16, Advisory Group member

"This project has given me the opportunity to meet other motivated young women who are committed to change." -Jheanell, 17, Advisory Group member

The project was funded by a grant from the 2002 Massachusetts Vitamin Litigation Settlement Fund.

Special thanks to Garelick Farms, Greater Boston YMCA, Healthworks Fitness Centers, Body by Brandy, Cabot Creamery, Dennehy Public Relations, Mendelsohn Gittleman and Associates, and Argus Communications.

The Medical Foundation is a Boston based, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and create healthy communities through prevention, health promotion, and research.

The Medical Foundation
95 Berkeley Street
Boston, MA 02116
617-451-0049
fightosteonow@tmfnet.org

The health materials contained here are not intended to be used for the diagnosis or treatment of a health problem or as a substitute for consulting a licensed medical professional. References to any product, service, or source of information that may be contained in this site should not be considered an endorsement, either direct or implied, by The Medical Foundation.