It doesn’t have to be a dramatic fall or a car crash or a high-impact accident. Just a simple slip on a daily dog walk — and then a broken hip. This is the quiet reality of osteoporosis, a serious, silent disease that weakens bones and increases the risk of fractures, posing as an urgent public health challenge that most commonly affects women.
In the U.S., one in two women over the age of 50 will suffer an osteoporotic fracture in her lifetime. Despite its prevalence, osteoporosis remains underdiagnosed, while disproportionally impacting communities of color. Early detection and greater attention to this widespread and yet undertreated condition are essential to protecting women’s long-term health and helping build strong, resilient bones as they age.
A Unified Effort to Drive Change
The Alliance for Women’s Health and Prevention (AWHP), in collaboration with a diverse coalition of public health leaders and advocacy organizations, convened in Washington, D.C. earlier this year to identify real solutions to the challenges that impede osteoporotic care. Together, we developed a consensus statement aimed at transforming the way osteoporosis is perceived, identified, and managed in the U.S. This collective effort calls for reimagining of our national response to osteoporosis, anchored in equity, early intervention, and long-term care.
To address the urgent and often overlooked issue of osteoporosis in women, the consensus statement represents a unified commitment to changing the status quo. It outlines a strategic blueprint to elevate awareness, enhance prevention efforts, and improve access to timely and effective screening and treatment. The statement calls for equitable access to care, culturally competent provider education, and policy reforms that prioritize women’s bone health across all life stages. It emphasizes:
- Strengthening post-fracture care: Ensuring women who experience osteoporotic fractures receive timely, coordinated follow-up to prevent further injury.
- Expanding access through policy reform: Removing systemic barriers that delay diagnosis and treatment, especially for women most at risk.
- Raising awareness through education: Empowering women across all communities with the knowledge they need to take charge of their bone health before fractures occur.
AWHP is proud to collaborate with our partners to address the critical challenge of osteoporosis in women, elevating the issue by bringing osteoporosis policy to the forefront and ensuring it receives the focused attention it deserves. Together, we are committed to providing every woman with the support and resources necessary to maintain and improve bone health throughout her life. By advancing both policy and practice, we can reshape osteoporosis care to ensure all women — regardless of race, geography, income, or any other factor — have access to care for this crucial women’s health issue.
Read the full consensus statement here.