What are the major myths about osteoporosis?

What are the major myths about osteoporosis?

Frederick Singer (Director of the Endocrine/Bone Disease Program, John Wayne Cancer Institute ) gives expert video advice on: What are the major myths about osteoporosis? and more...

One of the more interesting myths about osteoporosis is that men don't develop osteoporosis. Actually, men don't have a menopause like women but they very gradually have a decrease in testosterone with age over most of their lifespan. If their bone density gets low enough, they have fractures like women. About 20% of hip fractures, for instance, are occurring in men. Another myth with osteoporosis that is very interesting to me is that exercise has a dramatic effect on bone density. I am told this all the time by patients. However, the evidence for this is very small and I don't believe that exercise increases bone density significantly or enough to make a difference in preventing fractures.