World Osteoporosis Day demands end to global neglect of osteoporosis care and treatment
Today, 20th October 2025, QMU proudly marks World Osteoporosis Day, reaffirming its commitment to addressing one of the most pressing yet under-recognised public health challenges of our time – osteoporosis. In a bold call, the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) has deemed the response to osteoporosis as unacceptable, asking to end the global neglect in osteoporosis care and treatment.
Osteoporosis means "porous bone”. It is a condition where bones become thinner, less dense, and weaker, leading to an increased risk of fractures. It affects more than 500 million people worldwide, including approximately 250,00 people in Scotland.
Often dubbed the “silent disease,” osteoporosis develops gradually and is frequently diagnosed only after someone has had a bone fracture. Globally, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men over the age of 50 will experience an osteoporotic fracture in their lifetime. In Scotland, the rate is even higher, with 1 in 2 women over the age of 50 affected. With the UK’s ageing population, the prevalence of osteoporosis is expected to rise dramatically, leading to a growing concern amongst health professionals warning of an impending osteoporosis epidemic.
Alarmingly, according to the IOF, awareness of the condition remains low, even among healthcare professionals, and osteoporosis continues to be under prioritised within healthcare systems. As a result, up to 80% of individuals who experience a fracture caused by osteoporosis are never diagnosed with the condition or receive treatment for the underlying disease.
Health professionals and researchers at QMU have been working to change this narrative by promoting bone health and osteoporosis awareness through education, research and community engagement. The Lydia Osteoporosis Plus Project (LOP) at QMU, launched in 2011, continues to lead the way in person-centred research and education. The project aims to transform how osteoporosis is understood and managed in health and social care settings.
Vicki Waqa, Nurse Lecturer with the Lydia Osteoporosis Plus Project at QMU, said: “In Scotland and across the world, osteoporosis in not treated as a priority. The neglect surrounding the condition can lead to devastating consequences, which include:
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chronic pain;
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disability;
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loss of independence;
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increased risk of future fractures;
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premature death; and
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the burden extends beyond individuals to families, healthcare systems, and economies."
It is important that Scotland fosters a culture of proactive and preventative care that prioritises bone health and reduces the risk of fractures. It is imperative that clinicians do not neglect patients’ bone health, and that young people and adults understand how they can use diet, exercise and good lifestyle choices to create healthy bones and reduce their chances of developing osteoporosis in the future.
More recently, the Lydia Osteoporosis Plus Project has expanded its outreach across the central belt introducing Osteoporosis Community Cafés at QMU, that warmly welcome people living with osteoporosis and those who care for them.
Vicki explained: “We were overwhelmed by the demand to attend our first Osteoporosis Community Café this autumn, with most participants confirming that they had experienced a lack of understanding, specialist information and support from health professionals and services. The Lydia Osteoporosis Community Café offers a friendly, supportive environment where people can share their lived experiences, learn from one another, build connections and collaborate with the Lydia team to enhance research and education initiatives focused on bone health and wellbeing. It was very evident there was a very strong demand for information, connection, and person-centred support from everyone who took part.”
The current situation is no longer acceptable. World Osteoporosis Day 2025 is not just about awareness - it’s a real demand for change. We are calling on the Scottish Government, GPs and other healthcare providers to recognise osteoporosis as a serious public health issue and to act accordingly. QMU will play an important part in educating future healthcare professionals and existing healthcare staff, but the powers that be must do more to tackle the impending epidemic of osteoporosis.
During World Osteoporosis Week 2025, the Lydia Osteoporosis Plus Project team has been equipping its nursing students with knowledge and skills needed to effectively prevent, identify, and manage osteoporosis. This initiative empowers the nurses of the future to play a leading role in reducing fracture risk and improving quality of life across all age groups. They will also share osteoporosis education provision with QMU’s paramedic science, physiotherapy and other allied health professional students. By embedding bone health education into QMU’s undergraduate and postgraduate courses, the University is helping shape a healthcare workforce that’s equipped to address the growing global burden of osteoporosis.
Dr Matthews concluded: “On World Osteoporosis Day, we support the International Osteoporosis Foundation call for:
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early diagnosis through bone density testing, especially for adults over 50 who experience fractures from minor incidents;
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appropriate treatment and follow-up care to prevent future fractures; and
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public and healthcare professional education to close the treatment gap.
“QMU is developing the next generation of researchers, nurses, and paramedics who are committed to delivering impactful, person-centred care and innovative solutions that make a real difference to the lives of people affected by osteoporosis. However, tackling this preventable crisis requires collective action — all health, research, and policy agencies must work together to prioritise bone health and improve outcomes for future generations."
On World Osteoporosis Day 2025, we invite you to learn more about the work of the Lydia Osteoporosis Plus Project by viewing the latest initiatives on the website www.lydiaosteoporosis.org.
For further media information contact Lynne Russell, Communications Manager, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, E: lrussell@qmu.ac.uk (copy to E: pressoffice@qmu.ac.uk).
