What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis means your bones have lost density and their inner structure has thinned, so they can break from a minor fall (Compston et al., 2019). Women are at especially high risk after menopause, when falling estrogen speeds up bone loss.
This article is general health information and is not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment. If symptoms persist, see a doctor.
How is it diagnosed?
A bone density (DXA) scan gives a T-score comparing your bones with a healthy young adult's. The World Health Organization (1994) criteria are:
| T-score | Result |
|---|---|
| −1.0 or higher | Normal |
| Between −1.0 and −2.5 | Low bone mass (osteopenia) |
| −2.5 or lower | Osteoporosis |
Losing height or developing a stooped back can be a sign of spinal compression fractures.
Prevention and treatment
The basics are enough calcium and vitamin D, weight-bearing and strength exercise, not smoking, limiting alcohol and preventing falls. If fracture risk is high, doctors prescribe drugs that slow bone loss, such as bisphosphonates or denosumab, or drugs that build bone. Long-term steroid use and too much thyroid hormone can also weaken bones.
FAQ
- Is osteoporosis only a women's disease?
- It's far more common in women, but men get it too as they age.
- What can I do in my 20s?
- Bone mass peaks in your 20s and 30s, so exercise and getting enough calcium and vitamin D now builds a stronger reserve.
Sources reviewed: 2026-10-25
References
- Compston, J. E., McClung, M. R., & Leslie, W. D. (2019). Osteoporosis. The Lancet, 393(10169), 364–376.
- World Health Organization. (1994). Assessment of fracture risk and its application to screening for postmenopausal osteoporosis (WHO Technical Report Series No. 843). WHO.