In September 2023, the very first season of “The Golden Bachelor” premiered, introducing fans to Gerry Turner and 22 contestants who were 60 and over, looking for another chance at love. One of the standout contestants of the season was fitness instructor Leslie Fhima, who turned out to be Turner’s runner-up.
Since her time on “The Golden Bachelor,” fans have continued to follow Fhima on social media. On March 16, she took to Instagram to share a surprising health update, one that even prompted fellow Bachelor Nation star Joan Vassos to schedule an important checkup of her own.
Leslie Fhima Shares Osteoporosis Diagnosis With Fans
“The Golden Bachelor” season one runner-up Leslie Fhima, 66, shared an important health update with her fans on Instagram. On March 16, Fhima shared the news that after a visit to the doctor, she was diagnosed with “full-blown osteoporosis.”
“I can’t believe it, but I am here to tell you that I have full-blown osteoporosis,” her message began. “I’ve had it for a while, and I get these Prolia shots twice a year, and I’ve taken calcium. And then my numbers were actually going in the right direction. I had another DEXA scan a couple weeks ago, and now it’s bad again.”
Fhima shared that she could not understand why her diagnosis advanced, telling her followers that it might be hereditary, and adding, ” I do everything right. I swim, I do Pilates daily, I walk, I snowboard, I surf, I hike—I do everything. But there’s one thing I don’t do: I don’t lift heavy weights.”
Fhima said that she plans to incorporate heavy lifting into her workout routine, hoping “it will make a difference.” She also turned to fans for advice, and they quickly filled her comment section with supportive suggestions.
‘Golden Bachelorette’ Joan Vassos Shares Similar Bone Health Issues
GettyIn an April TikTok, “The Golden Bachelorette” star Joan Vassos, 63, shared that Fhima inspired her to get her own health checked after learning about the progression of her osteoporosis diagnosis.
In her caption, Vassos shared that Fhima’s video “resonated deeply” after she underwent her own bone density scan and discovered that her levels were declining to a “concerning” degree.
She continued, “While I haven’t been diagnosed with full-blown osteoporosis, I do have osteopenia, a condition that requires proactive management.”
In her video, Vassos shared that she was encouraged to start weight training to help her manage her diagnosis, much like Fhima. However, she also turned to her TikTok followers for guidance after admitting she isn’t a fan of going to the gym.
“I haven’t done much about it, and now I’m getting kind of worried. I’m wondering if any of you out there have thoughts on that. Do you have a bone density that is decreasing as you get older? Are you worried about it? What are you doing? I need help—I need recommendations,” she said.
Fans flooded Vassos’ comment section with words of encouragement, hoping she finds the answers and support she needs.
