Osteoporosis myths & facts

Foods can give you all the calcium your body needs.
Fact. Healthy people who eat a balanced diet can get enough calcium.
Learn more about how to get enough calcium and calcium-rich foods.

Our bones stop growing when we reach full height (by about age 20).
Myth. While we build a lot of our bone by age 20, we continue to build bone mass through young adulthood (between ages 20 and 30).

Not getting enough calcium during the teen years can contribute to osteoporosis later in life.
Fact. A lot of bone building takes place when we're teens, so calcium is very important. Bones that don't get enough calcium during this time are more likely to be weak and to break when one is older.

Dairy products are the only source of calcium.
Myth. Milk, yogurt, and cheese are great sources of calcium, but there are many other calcium-rich foods, such as certain green vegetables, soy foods like tofu and soy milk, and calcium-fortified foods like orange juice and cereal bars.

If my grandmother had osteoporosis, I'll get it too.
Myth. All women are at risk for osteoporosis, and having a family history of osteoporosis makes it more likely that someone may get it. But getting enough calcium and doing bone-building physical activity helps everyone fight osteoporosis.

Too much physical activity and too little physical activity can both lead to osteoporosis.
Fact. Regular weight-bearing physical activity causes bones and muscles to work against gravity and helps build healthy bones. Too little physical activity in the teen years can increase the chances of getting osteoporosis as an adult. But too much physical activity can cause a young women to stop getting her period, which affects hormones in the body and can weaken bones.

Eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia deprive the body of the nutrients in food (such as vitamins and minerals) it needs and weaken bones for life.
Fact. Young people (especially females) with eating disorders don't get all the nutrients they need to keep the body healthy, including bones. Without enough calcium, bones can become weak and break - even when a girl is young.

Men don't get osteoporosis.
Myth. Men can and do get osteoporosis. One in 5 people with osteoporosis are men, but they're less at risk because their bones are denser and they do not lose as much bone as women.