The choice of the word myth in the title of my book ‘The Myth of Osteoporosis’ was to highlight the many myths associated with osteoporosis, but primarily the major myth of the 1992 re-definition of osteoporosis as a measure of low bone density (BMD). Genuine osteoporosis is a relatively rare condition where bones are fragile and fracture on low impact. Everybody loses bone density as they age, and a BMD diagnosis of osteoporosis alone is not a good predictor of whether a person will go on to have fragile bones as it measures the quantity not the quality of bone. The majority of fractures occur in people with normal to high bone mineral density (BMD). A diagnosis of osteoporosis on the basis of low bone density is therefore misleading, and is a myth.
There are many other myths including the myth that half the female adult population will fracture as a result of osteoporosis, that preventive drug treatments (particularly of women or men with osteopenia) will effectively and safely prevent fractures, and the myth that osteoporosis is a killer disease. The book offers evidence-based information that most doctors don’t tell their patients.
I make it clear that genuine established osteoporosis is not a myth and is a very serious condition, and I include information on the disease including secondary risk factors, and in depth information about pharmaceutical treatments, nutrition and lifestyle/exercise choices.
Many thanks,
Gillian Sanson
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