5 common myths about osteoporosis, debunked
Get the facts and learn how to protect your bone health.
Jan, 2026
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Slide 1
Osteoporosis occurs when bones become weak, brittle, and more likely to break. More than 10 million people in the United States have osteoporosis and another 43 million are at high risk for the disease. As common as the condition is, though, it’s still surrounded by many misconceptions, which may prevent people from seeking the care they need.
Read on to get the facts about osteoporosis to help safeguard your bones now and into the future.
Written byKatie Eaker.
Medically reviewed byMegan Burke, MD.
Sources: Wright NC + 8
- Wright NC, Looker AC, Saag KG, et al. The recent prevalence of osteoporosis and low bone mass in the United States based on bone mineral density at the femoral neck or lumbar spine. J Bone Miner Res. 2014 Nov;29(11):2520-6.
- Cleveland Clinic. Osteoporosis. Page last reviewed July 20, 2023.
- Endocrine Society. Menopause and Bone Loss. January 24, 2022.
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Osteoporosis. Page last reviewed December 2022.
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Osteoporosis in Men. Page last reviewed May 2023.
- National Institute on Aging. Osteoporosis. Page last reviewed November 15, 2022.
- Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation. Your Guide to a Bone Healthy Diet. Page accessed October 20, 2023.
- Giummarra MJ, Ekegren CL, Gong J, et al. Twelve month mortality rates and independent living in people aged 65 years or older after isolated hip fracture: A prospective registry-based study. Injury. 2020 Feb;51(2):420-428.
- Noel SE, Santos MP, Wright NC. Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Bone Health and Outcomes in the United States. J Bone Miner Res. 2021 Oct;36(10):1881-1905.
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