256. Vegetarian women have a higher risk of hip fracture
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
Eating a vegetarian diet might increase the risk of hip fracture in women. In a new study published in the journal BMC Medicine, researchers at the University of Leeds in England followed over 26,000 middle-aged women for approximately 20 years. They compared the risk of hip fracture among vegetarians, pescatarians, or people who eat fish but not meat, and occasional meat-eaters compared to regular meat-eaters. About 3 percent of the women suffered a hip fracture in those 20 years. The researchers found an elevated risk of hip fracture only among the vegetarian women. They stress that a healthy vegetarian diet can still be a great option for many women, but it’s important to ensure that women get protein and nutrients that optimize bone health, like calcium, in their diets or through supplements.
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
