What Is Osteoporosis?
Understanding osteoporosis: causes, risk factors and diagnosis
Osteoporosis, often referred to as the ‘silent disease’ is a chronic condition that usually has a slow development. It is characterised by weakened bones, making them fragile and more likely to break or fracture (NHS, 2025). Although having osteoporosis doesn’t mean you’ll definitely break a bone, it means you’re at a higher risk (Royal Osteoporosis Society UK, 2025).
Osteoporosis is often diagnosed after a fall or sudden impact causes a break or fracture in the bone. It can affect any bone in the body, however, common sites for this condition are the wrists, hips and spine. Although the condition is not usually painful itself, a break can cause longer-term pain.
The word osteoporosis comes from Greek and Latin backgrounds, meaning ‘porous bones’. Although our bones naturally have holes and spaces in them, similar to the texture of honeycomb, osteoporosis causes these spaces to become much larger, a key indication of decreases in bone mineral density and therefore strength. This condition can be a progression of osteopenia, which is also characterised by low mineral density, however is not as severe as osteoporosis.
Why does it happen?
Our bones are a tissue that is constantly breaking down and rebuilding itself. Throughout our lifetime, the balance between the breakdown and formation of bone shifts, with peak bone mass usually occurring around our mid-30s. After this, bone loss may occur at a faster rate than bone rebuilding, a factor that is especially common in females.
There are a range of factors that may contribute to your risk of osteoporosis development, some of which are modifiable, and others are not. These can include:
- Age – As we age, our risk increases. Particularly after 50, and more so in post menopausal women.
- Gender – Women are more likely to develop osteoporosis, largely due to changes in estrogen levels.
- Family history – Those who have relatives with osteoporosis may be at a higher risk of developing it themselves.
- Body size and build – People who are smaller have less bone to lose, therefore impacting their total bone strength.
- Lifestyle choices – Factors including exercise, diet, sleep, smoking and alcohol play a large role in overall bone strength.
- Medical conditions and medications – Some conditions that may impact lifestyle factors, as well as certain medications, can impact bone mineral density.
How to spot it
Osteoporosis can be hard to detect, especially in the early stages where no pain or obvious symptoms are present. This is usually the reason for diagnosis occurring after experiencing a fracture or injury. However, there are some subtle changes you can keep an eye out for. These include:
- Pain – especially after any falls, trips or heavy impact
- Loss of height or stooped posture – this could be an indicator of spinal compression due to fractures or weakened bones
- Frequent fractures or breaks – a common sign of this condition is experiencing fractures more easily than expected
What can I do now?
The good news is, osteoporosis can be both prevented and managed, and in rare cases improved. Your bone density can be measured through a specific non-invasive scan called a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, also known as a DEXA. This scan looks into the proportion of minerals in your bones to identify changes to bone strength and areas where it may be more progressed than others. This information is important to decide what forms of treatment and lifestyle modifications are appropriate to manage any changes.
Discussing this information with your GP will allow you to make appropriate adjustments. Medications are also available to help slow bone loss, increase density, and reduce fracture risk. Building a healthy diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, as well as avoiding unhealthy lifestyle factors such as smoking and regular alcohol consumption, is vital.
Current research also suggests that exercise is one of the most beneficial interventions for preventing and managing osteoporosis. Exercise needs to be individualised based on each person’s diagnosis, medical and exercise histories, however, weight-bearing and strength exercise has been found to be the most effective form for osteoporosis management.
If you’ve been diagnosed with osteoporosis or are worried about your bone health, reach out to us and we can assist with an individualised program to help manage your bone density and strength.
References
Mayo Clinic. (2024, February 24). Osteoporosis. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/osteoporosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351968
NHS. (2022, October 13). Osteoporosis. NHS. Retrieved from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/osteoporosis/
Royal Osteoporosis Society. (2025). Osteoporosis – Low bone density. Retrieved from https://theros.org.uk/information-and-support/osteoporosis/
