Osteoporosis Overview

Osteoporosis is a condition that occurs when bone mass and bone mineral density decrease. The weakened bones are more likely to break, giving people with osteoporosis a higher risk of fractures. These fractures can occur during situations that would not normally cause fractures, such as falling from a standing height, lifting objects, or bending over.¹ Fractures occur most often in the vertebrae, hips, and wrist, although any bone has the potential to break.² Individuals who have bone mineral densities that are lower than normal but who do not meet the diagnostic criteria for osteoporosis are considered to have osteopenia.³

Although osteoporosis can occur in anyone, women have a higher risk of developing this condition than men.² Women tend to have lower peak bone mass than men, making them more susceptible to bone loss. Low levels of certain hormones, such as estrogen or testosterone, can also contribute to the development of osteoporosis. Because estrogen levels decline after menopause, osteoporosis is a known risk in older women. Other risk factors for this condition include a family history of osteoporosis or hip fractures, a diet that is low in vitamin D and calcium, and the long-term use of certain medications.¹

Currently, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening for osteoporosis to prevent osteoporotic fractures in women aged 65 years or older and in postmenopausal women who are younger than 65 years but who have a high risk of these types of fractures.⁴ Despite these recommendations, osteoporosis is often not diagnosed until after multiple fractures have occurred, and there is a need to improve risk assessments, preventive screening, and public education about this disease.⁵ It is also worth noting that the rates of screening and treatment for osteoporosis among Black, Hispanic, and Native American women are disproportionately lower than the rates among White women,⁵ and more research is needed to effectively address potential barriers to care for these populations.

The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) supports key research areas related to osteoporosis, including methods for preventing and treating osteoporosis and the genetic and environmental factors that contribute to the development of this condition. NIAMS teamed up with the National Institute on Aging (NIA) to support the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures, which originally began in 1986. This study enrolled over 10,000 women aged 65 and older and has given researchers insights into key risk factors for osteoporosis and fractures.⁶