Staying healthy throughout your life is an excellent way to keep your bones healthy too. Find out what you might focus on at a particular stage of your life.

Teen years

During your teenage years, your skeleton is actively getting bigger and stronger. By the end of your teens, roughly 90 per cent of your ‘peak bone mass’ (the point at which your bones are at their strongest) will have been achieved. The higher your peak bone mass, the greater protection your skeleton has against the effects of ageing. Therefore, it is vital that you attain a high peak bone mass during your teen years to withstand the effects of age related bone loss later on. Learn more...

20s to 40s

Life can be hectic in your 20s, 30s and 40s due to friends, family and work commitments. If you did not think much about the state of your bones before, now is a good time to start. Bone growth is nearly complete by the end of puberty, with only a small increase in bone strength occurring after the late teenage years. From the mid-30s on there is a mismatch between bone production and bone breakdown. Learn more...

Midlife

From the mid-30s onwards, bone breakdown overtakes bone production. It is part of the normal ageing process that bones lose their mineral (calcium) and protein (collagen) content. As midlife continues, and women experience menopause, the process of bone loss is further accelerated.  Learn more...

Older years

Women can expect to lose around one per cent of their bone mineral density each year following their menopause. This means that you are likely to develop osteoporosis into old age. Older women need to consider having discussions with their doctor to find out ways to improve their bone health and whether they need specific investigations for osteoporosis.  Learn more...