You Should Focus On Bone Health Earlier Than You Might Think — Here's Why

We're seeing an exciting shift in how women approach fitness, health, and aging—with an emphasis on strength and longevity versus being small and thin. Unfortunately, the latter point of view has already caused some real damage to women's bodies, especially when it comes to bone health. 

Some estimates show we reach peak bone mass between ages 25 and 35, with declines for women gaining momentum around age 40, or whenever we enter perimenopause and our formerly protective estrogen1 levels dip. We want to go into that phase of life with as much bone as we can, yet many women start with a disadvantage due to societal and cultural narratives about body size. Genetics can also play a part.  

It is certainly alarming that more than half of women over age 50 have low bone mass, meaning their bones are getting weaker, though they aren't yet at the stage of osteoporosis.

And if you're wondering what the real danger of osteoporosis is, let me elaborate. Osteoporosis means you're losing bone mass faster than you're making it and signals bones that are becoming weaker and at a greater risk of breaking. Hip and spine fractures are some of the most devastating. Hip fractures often result in disability and increase the risk of death within a year after the injury, while spinal injuries can cause vertebrae to collapse, with extreme pain and postural misalignment. 

So, what's a woman to do? Is it too late to make an impact? 

Take a look at your mother and grandmother—are they shrinking? If the answer is yes, it's a sign of vertebral loss. That means you're at a higher risk of bone loss.

For a deeper look at your risk, I suggest checking out the FRAX calculator to identify your likelihood of fracture. It's also a great idea to get regular DEXA scans.