Bone Health & Hype

This is a very clear example of the marketing (strong)arm of Big Pharma and how it induces people to beleive they have a 'condition' requiring their drug to patch it up.

"Older Women: You probably have osteopenia, say drug companies"

We've all heard of osteoporosis, the bone disease that can lead to fractures. But how many of you have heard of osteopenia?

Osteopenia is the pre-osteoporosis condition, and according to drug company research, up to half of all older women have it. And because they have osteopenia, they really should be taking an anti-osteopenia drug.

But when researchers took a closer look, they discovered a classic case of disease-mongering: drug companies were turning a risk factor into a disease in order to sell drugs.

British Medical Journal 2008. 336: 126-9.