Royal Osteoporosis Society (ROS) osteoporosis risk checker – frequently asked questions

What is the osteoporosis risk checker?

The osteoporosis risk checker is an online tool to help you understand more about your bone health and chance of developing osteoporosis.

The short survey will tell you if you have key risk factors for osteoporosis. It takes less than five minutes to complete and will provide you with your personalised bone health results. The osteoporosis risk checker and follow up emails will also provide practical tips on how to take action on your bone health.

By understanding your chance of developing osteoporosis, you can take action to protect your bone health and if needed, start a conversation with your GP.

Visit theros.org.uk/risk-checker to start the osteoporosis risk checker now.

Why should I care about my bone health?

One in two women and one in five men over the age of 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis. But it doesn’t need to be like this – osteoporosis is treatable and fractures largely preventable.

Who is the osteoporosis risk checker for?

The risk checker has been developed for people in the UK over the age of 18.

It is not designed for people who have already been diagnosed with osteoporosis or have had their bone health assessed by a healthcare professional.

If you’ve already been diagnosed with osteoporosis, we would like your help to spread the word and encourage others to check their risk – friends, family, colleagues and neighbours! We’ve developed a webpage to easily share the risk checker: theros.org.uk/risk-checker-share

To do this online, it’s as simple as sharing the link with others or following us on social media (@RoyalOsteoSoc) and sharing our posts about the osteoporosis risk checker.

And remember, we have lots of information and support to help you understand and manage your osteoporosis here: theros.org.uk/information-and-support

How was the osteoporosis risk checker developed?

The content for the tool was developed with input from clinical experts, volunteers with lived experience of osteoporosis and our Health Information team. The tool itself was then tested by existing volunteers, staff and new audiences.

The Royal Osteoporosis Society (ROS) risk checker will help you to understand the different risk factors that can increase your chance of developing osteoporosis and broken bones. It is not a diagnostic tool. Only a healthcare professional can diagnose osteoporosis and predict your chance of breaking a bone.

What types of results can people get?

The answers you provide will determine your results and recommendations.

There are three broad results:

• People with answers that show they have key risk factors for osteoporosis (e.g., women under 50 with an early menopause or people taking oral steroids or drug treatments for breast or prostate cancer) who have not already had an osteoporosis assessment or are on osteoporosis medicine, are encouraged to take action by making an appointment with their GP to start a conversation about their bone health.
• People with answers that show they have some risk factors for osteoporosis are encouraged to discuss their personalised results the next time they speak with their GP. 
• People with answers that show they don’t currently have any of the main risk factors are told that this is the case but are encouraged to take action now to reduce their chance of osteoporosis and broken bones in the future.

Everybody is encouraged to consider making positive lifestyle choices including eating a balanced diet with calcium, taking vitamin D as recommended, and exercising regularly to help keep their bones strong and healthy.

And everyone will be made aware that they may develop new risk factors in the future (especially if they develop new medical problems, start taking new medicine or break a bone).

My results say I have key risk factors, does that mean I have osteoporosis?

The osteoporosis risk checker is not a diagnostic tool, only a healthcare professional can diagnose osteoporosis and predict your chance of breaking a bone.

The results generated are based on the information you provide, so may be open to interpretation.

Risk factors are anything that increases the chance of osteoporosis. It might indicate you are at higher or lower risk of developing osteoporosis, but that doesn’t mean you definitely will or won’t develop the condition.

Please always talk to a healthcare professional to discuss your bone health.

I think my results are wrong.

The osteoporosis risk checker is a tool to help you understand the risk factors that can increase the chance of developing osteoporosis and broken bones. It is not a diagnostic tool. Only a healthcare professional can diagnose osteoporosis and predict your chance of breaking a bone.

The algorithms behind the tool - which generates your results based on the answers you choose - are based on clinical guidelines and consensus and were informed and agreed by clinical experts. Your results will depend on what information you enter, and are an indication of your level of risk, not a diagnosis. Risk factors are anything that increases the chance of osteoporosis.

Please always talk to a healthcare professional to discuss your bone health.

I have osteoporosis/low bone density, but my results say that I don’t have any key risk factors?

The osteoporosis risk checker is not designed for people who have already been diagnosed with osteoporosis or have had their bone health assessed by a healthcare professional.

The osteoporosis risk checker will help you to understand the different risk factors that can increase your chance of developing osteoporosis and broken bones. It is not a diagnostic tool, only a healthcare professional can diagnose osteoporosis and predict your chance of breaking a bone.

Please always talk to a healthcare professional to discuss your bone health. We also have lots of information to support you here: theros.org.uk/information-and-support

I think I might have osteoporosis. What should I do?

If you’re worried about your bone health and think you might be at risk of osteoporosis and broken bones, it’s important to talk to your GP. They can assess your bone health and talk to you about helpful lifestyle changes. They can also talk to you about bone-strengthening medicines, if you need one, or refer you for further tests.

For more information about bone health, visit: theros.org.uk/information-and-support

I don’t understand my results.

For more information about bone health, visit: theros.org.uk/information-and-support

I’ve made an appointment with my GP but I don’t know what to say?

Why not print out your personalised results and take it with you to start a conversation with your GP and check out our ‘Talking to your GP about your bone health’ resources.

I’ve tried to complete the osteoporosis risk checker, but the tool isn’t working on my device.

The osteoporosis risk checker may not be supported by some operating systems. If you’re able to, try to complete it on another device.

How do I get a personalised results?

After completing the osteoporosis risk checker, your results will be displayed at the top of the final web page. You will also have the opportunity to enter your email address to receive an email with a printable copy of your personalised results as an electronic file (PDF). Depending on the recommendation, you may wish to save and/or print off your results to discuss with a healthcare professional.

What happens after I’ve used the osteoporosis risk checker?

If you provided your email address on the final web page, you will receive an email with a printable copy of your personalised results along with follow up information about keeping your bones healthy. We’ll also keep you up to date with our latest news, blogs, information and campaigns as well as membership and fundraising activities, and events you might enjoy. You can unsubscribe from these communications at any time.

How will my data be used?

We will use the information you provide when completing the osteoporosis risk checker to provide an indication of your chance of developing osteoporosis.

If you provide us with an email address during this process, we will send you your personalised results along with follow up information about keeping your bones healthy. We’ll also keep you up to date with our latest news, blogs, information and campaigns as well as membership and fundraising activities, and events you might enjoy.

If you provide your phone number, we may contact you by phone to tell you more about our work and how you can join our mission to help those living with osteoporosis to live well. There is no obligation to give.

We rely on consent as our lawful basis for this, and by inputting your email address and/or phone number, you have consented to be contacted in this way for the purposes stated. You can unsubscribe and opt-out of receiving these communications at any time.

We are committed to protecting and respecting your privacy, and keeping your information safe. Find out more about how we use your information.

We will use the anonymised results to further our charitable purposes by, for example, producing statistics based on the responses provided. When we do this, we will ensure that you will not be identifiable from the information that we use.

Why are you asking about the menopause?

When you reach the menopause, your ovaries stop producing as much of the hormone oestrogen. Oestrogen helps to keep bones strong, so women lose bone strength more quickly for a few years around the time of the menopause.

For more information about bone health and the menopause, visit: theros.org.uk/information-and-support

Why are you asking about hormone replacement therapy (HRT)?

HRT can help to prevent bone loss and reduce your chance of developing osteoporosis and breaking bones while you're taking it.

For more information about bone health and HRT, visit: theros.org.uk/information-and-support

Why are you asking about my family history of hip fractures, not just my family history of osteoporosis?

Your bone health is largely dependent on the genes that are passed down from your parents. There are no specific tests that can assess how your genes might affect your bone health. But research has shown that if a parent breaks a hip, you may have a higher chance of osteoporosis and breaking bones. Especially if your parent was younger than 70 when they broke their hip.

A parent having osteoporosis and no broken hip, is less likely to increase your chance of osteoporosis and breaking bones.

For more information about bone health and family history, visit: theros.org.uk/information-and-support

How can I feed back about the osteoporosis risk checker?

We welcome feedback about our osteoporosis risk checker. This can be provided by emailing riskchecker@theros.org.uk or calling 01761 473142. 

Do you plan to update the osteoporosis risk checker?

We will consider user feedback and may plan to develop the tool further. The content will be reviewed regularly as part of the standard review cycle for all our public-facing, evidence-based health information. It was last reviewed in April 2025.