Approximately 53.4 million Americans have low bone mass, placing them at increased risk for osteoporosis – a condition in which bones become weak and brittle. While bone mass is affected by genetic and environmental factors (such as ancestry, nutrition, and physical activity), biological sex and hormones play an important role in developing bone mass. Estrogen is a hormone that helps to build and maintain bone density throughout the life-course, leaving women at increased risk of bone fracture after menopause. Breaking a bone is a serious complication of osteoporosis, which occurs in approximately half of all women over age 50 with this disease. In older adults, complications related to a broken bone can be life threatening and result in the need for long-term nursing care.
Bone Health is part of the SWHR Healthy Aging Network, which engages the following focus areas: Alzheimer’s Disease, Bone Health, Heart Health, Menopause, and Obesity.
Fact Sheets
SWHR published the Women’s Bone Health: The Importance of Caring for Your Bones Early and Often Fact Sheet to share steps...
Peer-Reviewed Articles
Published in the Journal of Women's Health, this SWHR paper discusses women's bone health throughout the lifespan.
Policy Engagement
The Bone Health Policy Agenda intends to serve as a roadmap outlining key areas of policy needed to improve the...
Fact Sheets
This bone health fact sheet reviews bone statistics from across the United States, shares risk factors, and discusses policy's role...
Guest author Rebekah Rotstein, NCPT, founder of Buff Bones® and member of SWHR Bone Health Working Group, shares tips for building healthier bones across the lifespan.
SWHR is proud to honor Claire Gill of the Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation and Pamela D. Price of The Balm In Gilead for their work in women’s health in 2022 and beyond.
The Value of Diagnostics within Women’s Health series in 2022 featured six public forums that sought to highlight the role of screening and diagnostics throughout a woman’s lifespan.
The Bone Health Policy Agenda is a call action that builds upon earlier women's bone health policy priorities from SWHR and aims to improve bone health outcomes for women.
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