Osteoporosis Bone & joint health Medical tests & procedures

9 things to know about osteoporosis and bone health

A broken bone could indicate a much bigger problem. Learn more about bone density and how to keep your bones strong.

A broken bone could mean Osteoporosis

Having Diabetes raises your risk for Osteoporosis

Being thin increases your odds for Osteoporosis

Not getting enough calcium puts your bones at risk

A lack of vitamin D raises your risk for Osteoporosis

Some medications can hurt your bones

Menopause increases Osteoporosis risk

A bone density test can detect bone loss

Physical activity protects against Osteoporosis

1 of 10

Throughout your life, you constantly lose old bone and form new bone. As a teenager and young adult, your body makes more bone than it loses. With age, bone production drops off and bone loss increases, putting you at risk for osteoporosis, or porous bone that fractures easily.

Roughly 10 million Americans have osteoporosis and 44 million have osteopenia, or low bone mass, according to the Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation. But osteoporosis and related fractures don't have to be inevitable. Here are nine things to know to lower your risk.

Sources: Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation. O... + 19

Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation. Osteoporosis Fast Facts. Accessed March 20, 2025.
Mayo Clinic. Bone and joint problems associated with diabetes. January 19, 2024.
American Diabetes Association. Health Checks for People with Diabetes. Accessed March 20, 2025.
New York State Department of Health. Diabetes and Your Bones: Get The Facts. February 2015.
Mayo Clinic. Osteoporosis. February 24, 2024.
Cleveland Clinic. Osteoporosis. July 20, 2023.
Ensrud KE, Cauley J, Lipschutz R, Cummings SR. Weight change and fractures in older women. Study of Osteoporotic Fractures Research Group. Arch Intern Med. 1997 Apr 28;157(8):857-63.
Genetic Science Learning Center. Osteoporosis. Accessed March 20, 2025.
Li K, Wang XF, Li DY, Chen YC, et al. The good, the bad, and the ugly of calcium supplementation: a review of calcium intake on human health. Clin Interv Aging. 2018 Nov 28;13:2443-2452.
USDA. Dietary Guidelines for Americans. 2020-2025. December 2020.
NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin D Fact Sheet for Consumers. November 8, 2022.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Skin Cancer Risk Factors. July 1, 2024.
Osteoporosis Canada. Medications that can cause bone loss, falls and/or fractures. Accessed March 20, 2025.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Osteoporosis. February 2024.
Better Health Channel (AUS). Menopause and osteoporosis. August 7, 2024.
Jones AR, Enticott J, Ebeling PR, Mishra GD, et al. Bone health in women with premature ovarian insufficiency/early menopause: a 23-year longitudinal analysis. Hum Reprod. 2024 May 2;39(5):1013-1022.
Cleveland Clinic. DXA Scan (Bone Density Test). May 28, 2024.
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Osteoporosis to Prevent Fractures: Screening. January 14, 2025.
Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation. Osteoporosis Exercise for Strong Bones. Accessed March 20, 2025.
Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation. Be Bone Strong – Weight Bearing. Accessed March 20, 2025.

Written by Michael Gollust.

Medically reviewed by Megan Burke, MD.November, 2024

Updated onOctober, 2026

Recommended for you

Learn about the ways bones change as you grow older, plus ways to keep them strong.

5 important things to know about osteoporosis

Follow these simple strategies to prevent or slow the bone loss that can lead to osteoporosis.

10 ways to improve bone health

Get the facts and learn how to protect your bone health.

5 common myths about osteoporosis, debunked

Find out how medications, exercise and lifestyle tweaks can keep your bones healthy.

Have osteoporosis? Help prevent bone breaks with these 3 tips

Here's what to expect when your healthcare provider orders a bone density test to check your bone health.

Should you be screened for osteoporosis?

How can I be more consistent?