Why are you targeting men?

The disease affects one in 12 men over the age of 50 in the UK. Medical attention tends to focus on osteoporosis in women because of the huge number of women with and at risk of the disease but this can leave many men who are diagnosed with the disease feeling ignored and isolated.

The NOS is concerned that because of the ageing population and changes in lifestyle many more men will be affected by this painful and debilitating disease.

Who gets osteoporosis and at what age?

Women are more at risk of developing osteoporosis than men. They have smaller bones, which are less dense, and they also experience the menopause, which greatly accelerates bone loss for several years.

Men generally have bigger, denser bones than women and do not undergo the rapid bone loss that women experience around the menopause.

Osteoporosis in men is often the result of another health problem. Low levels of the male hormone testosterone can lead to osteoporosis, due to a problem with the testes themselves or the pituitary gland, which controls hormone levels.

There may be no obvious signs or symptoms of low testosterone levels but some men find they need to shave less regularly, have a low sex drive and feel excessively tired. In nearly half of all men with osteoporosis the cause is unknown. This is called idiopathic osteoporosis and further research is needed to establish why excessive bone loss occurs in these men.

How do you prevent it?

Your genes determine the potential height and strength of your skeleton but the way you live your life can influence your bone health. During childhood, adolescence and early adulthood - up to your mid-20s - when the skeleton is increasing in bone density, it is vitally important to maximise peak bone mass by ensuring as much bone is "banked" as possible. This puts your skeleton in a much better position to withstand the inevitable and natural bone-loss we all experience later in life. Even if you are in your 30s or older there is plenty you can do to maintain the strength of your bones.

Aim for a well-balanced diet that includes a good variety of food, including bread, potatoes, pasta and cereals; fruit and vegetables; milk and dairy products; and meat, fish, eggs, pulses, nuts and seeds, to ensure you get all the vitamins and minerals you need.

Calcium is particularly important. Our bodies contain more than one kilogram of this essential mineral, 99 percent of which is found in our bones and helps to give them strength and rigidity.

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