[Different occupational groups of women and selected nutrition-related risk factors for osteoporosis]

This paper studies the prevalence of risk factors considered responsible for osteoporosis in women of 4 occupational groups: farmers, blue collar workers, white collar workers/civil servants and housewives. We analyzed nutritional factors associated with osteoporosis in the scientific literature. The total sample comprises of 2185 individuals of which 658 women were taken into the analyses. The data set was based on a health survey conducted in 10 selected rural communities of Styria in Austria between 1995 and 1996. Sociodemographic data, lifestyles, internal and external resources as well as indicators off ill-health were surveyed through standardized personal interviews. The results show that the women of the 4 occupational groups were differently strained regarding nutritional risk factors. Our results suggest that efficient intervention programs to prevent osteoporosis need to specifically focus on the various life contexts of women.