Who should have bone density testing?

Who should have bone density testing?

Frederick Singer (Director of the Endocrine/Bone Disease Program, John Wayne Cancer Institute ) gives expert video advice on: If my mother had a history of osteoporosis why would I get it too?; Can a doctor tell if I have osteoporosis just by looking at me? and more...

Bone density testing is somewhat controversial. Some organizations say that people over 65 years of age should have bone density testing. Since you can lose quite a bit of bone between 50 and 65, if you're a woman, I personally feel that is not an adequate recommendation. I think anybody that's had fractures without much trauma should have a bone density test, no matter what the age. I think a 50 year old woman with certain risk factors, such as a family history of osteoporosis, heavy smoking, things like that, that should alert the doctor to think of having a bone density test, even though you can't see anything wrong with the patient.