Dairy-product intake and hip fracture among older women: Issues for healthbehavior

The purpose of this study was to examine the association between dairy-prod uct intake and hip fracture amen a national sample of women aged 50 years a nd older. Univariate analyses using SAS procedures showed dairy-product int ake was significantly associated with hip fracture. Women who had suffered hip fracture reported higher dairy use than women who had not experienced t hese fractures, a finding that is dramatically inconsistent with the litera ture. This finding may reflect positive behavioral changes resulting from t he hip fracture event. Further research must focus on changes in health beh avior after fracture, which may assist in understanding the roles of specif ic theories of health behavior. Application of principles of health behavio r could improve the effectiveness of preventive treatment programs for oste oporosis.