General bone health maintenance and fracture prevention

Fracture risk increases over the lifetime due to declining BMD and strength, as well as non-skeletal risk factors for falls, including sarcopenia, poor balance, neuropsychological impairment, polypharmacy, poor nutrition and chronic diseases. As such, there is a gradual transition from prevention to treatment paradigms with advancing age, with the emphasis on optimisation/preservation of BMD from childhood to middle age broadening to other factors implicated in falls risk in later life.

Osteoporosis is associated with several lifestyle factors, including nutritional intake, vitamin D status and physical activity. International guidelines recommend healthy lifestyle choices to reduce osteoporosis risk.^1,2