In brief
A common, long-term condition in which bones become less dense and more fragile, so they break more easily. It has no symptoms until a bone breaks.
- Fractures from osteoporosis most often affect the spine, arm and hip.
- Ways to lower your risk of falling include medicine reviews, eye checks, non-slip shoes, and balance and strength exercise.
- If your diet is low in calcium, your body takes calcium from your bones.
How it works
Women often lose bone mass more quickly after menopause. Other risk factors include older age, family history, not getting enough calcium, protein or vitamin D, smoking, drinking too much alcohol, some medicines such as corticosteroids, and not moving and exercising enough.
A bone density scan helps diagnose it. Eating foods with calcium and protein, getting enough vitamin D, and exercise such as walking and strength training can improve bone density. Medicines such as bisphosphonates slow bone loss, and preventing falls matters too.
Connections
5 connections on the map. Select a topic to read its page.
Osteoporosis is linked with
Long-term vitamin D deficiency can cause loss of bone density and raise the risk of osteoporosis.
Sources: healthdirect Australia, Vitamin D deficiency; NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, Vitamin D fact sheet for consumers
If your diet is low in calcium, your body takes calcium from your bones, which over time can lead to osteoporosis.
Sources: healthdirect Australia, Calcium; NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, Calcium fact sheet for consumers
Osteoporosis affects
If you have osteoporosis, you are more likely to fracture a bone if you fall over.
Osteoporosis can be lowered by
Exercises such as walking and strength training can improve your bone density.
Osteoporosis can be raised by
Females often lose bone mass more quickly after menopause, and bone thinning is a longer-term risk of menopause.
Sources: healthdirect Australia, Osteoporosis; healthdirect Australia, Menopause
Lab tests
Medicines and supplements
General education only. Never start, stop or change a medicine without your prescriber.
Sources
Each connection above names its own source. See every source AskBioMap uses.
Summarised from healthdirect and the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Sources read on 13 and 16 October 2026. General education only, not medical advice. Spotted a mistake? Please tell us through the HuBu-Intel contact page.