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Bone Density and DEXA: What Every Woman Over 50 Should Know

  • Mar 19
  • 4 min read

Updated: Apr 9

Nearly 1 in 5 women and 1 in 20 men over the age of 50 are affected by osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a condition where bones become weak and brittle, significantly increasing the risk of fractures. The problem is that osteoporosis is silent. You do not feel your bones getting thinner. Most people only discover it after a fracture. A DEXA bone density scan can detect bone loss years before a fracture occurs, giving you time to act.


How Bone Loss Happens


Bone is living tissue that is constantly being broken down and rebuilt. Up until around age 30, your body builds bone faster than it breaks it down. After that, the balance slowly shifts. For women, the decline accelerates sharply after menopause due to the drop in oestrogen, which plays a key role in maintaining bone density.


By age 65, many women have lost enough bone density to be classified as osteopenic (below normal but not yet osteoporotic) or osteoporotic. Men lose bone more gradually but are not immune. Roughly 1 in 20 men over 50 have osteoporosis, and this number is often underdiagnosed.


What a DEXA Bone Density Scan Measures


A DEXA scan measures bone mineral density (BMD) - how much mineral content (primarily calcium) is packed into a given area of bone. The result is reported as a T-score:


Concerned about your bone density? A DEXA scan reveals your T-score and bone health status in one visit. Book at Precision Body Lab → https://www.precisionbodylab.com.au/book-online


  • T-score above -1.0 - normal bone density.

  • T-score between -1.0 and -2.5 - osteopenia (low bone density, increased fracture risk).

  • T-score below -2.5 - osteoporosis (significantly reduced bone density, high fracture risk).


The scan is quick, painless, and uses very low radiation. Clinical DEXA bone density scans typically focus on the hip and lumbar spine, as these are the most common fracture sites. A whole-body DEXA composition scan at Precision Body Lab also provides a total-body bone density reading, which can serve as an early indicator that further clinical evaluation may be warranted.


Who Should Get a Bone Density Scan?


Australian and international guidelines recommend bone density screening for:

  • All women aged 65 and older.

  • Postmenopausal women under 65 who have one or more risk factors (family history of fractures, low body weight, smoking, excessive alcohol use, long-term corticosteroid use).

  • Anyone who has had a fragility fracture (a fracture from a fall at standing height or less).

  • Men aged 70 and older, or younger men with risk factors.

  • People on medications that affect bone (e.g., long-term corticosteroids, certain cancer treatments).


If you are not sure whether you need a clinical bone density scan, a whole-body DEXA composition scan at Precision Body Lab can provide an initial bone density reading. If the results suggest low bone mineral density, we recommend following up with your GP for a targeted clinical DEXA of the hip and spine.


What You Can Do About Bone Loss


The good news is that bone loss can be slowed, stopped, and in some cases partially reversed. Here is what the evidence supports:


Resistance and Weight-Bearing Exercise


Bones adapt to mechanical stress. Weight-bearing exercises (walking, jogging, stair climbing) and resistance training (lifting weights) stimulate bone formation. Impact exercises are particularly effective - even moderate activities like brisk walking produce measurable benefits. Aim for at least 30 minutes of weight-bearing activity most days, plus 2-3 resistance training sessions per week targeting major muscle groups.


Calcium and Vitamin D


Calcium is the primary building block of bone. Adults over 50 should aim for 1,000-1,300 mg of calcium per day, ideally from food sources (dairy, leafy greens, fortified foods). Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption. Without adequate vitamin D, your body cannot effectively use the calcium you consume. In Australia, despite our sunshine, vitamin D deficiency is surprisingly common, especially in winter and for people who spend most of their time indoors. A blood test from your GP can confirm your levels.


Lifestyle Factors


Smoking accelerates bone loss and doubles the risk of hip fracture. Excessive alcohol (more than two standard drinks per day) also weakens bones. Maintaining a healthy body weight is important. Being underweight is a significant risk factor for osteoporosis.


Medical Treatment


For people diagnosed with osteoporosis, your GP or specialist may prescribe medications that slow bone breakdown or stimulate bone formation. These treatments are most effective when combined with exercise, nutrition, and lifestyle changes, and their effectiveness should be monitored with follow-up DEXA scans.


Why Early Detection Matters


A hip fracture in an older adult is not a minor event. It often leads to hospitalisation, surgery, loss of independence, and in some cases, a permanent decline in quality of life. The mortality rate in the year following a hip fracture in adults over 65 is significant. The purpose of bone density screening is to catch the problem while you can still do something about it, not after a fall.


A whole-body DEXA scan at Precision Body Lab gives you a bone density reading alongside your full body composition data. It is a simple, non-invasive step that can prompt a conversation with your doctor before a fracture happens.




Precision Body Lab is located at Suite 4, 31-41 Kiora Rd, Miranda NSW 2228. If you are over 50, or have risk factors for osteoporosis, a DEXA scan is one of the most proactive steps you can take for your long-term health. Book your scan today.


Want to know where your bone density stands?


Book a DEXA scan at Precision Body Lab in Miranda, Sydney. Our scans include a full bone density report alongside body composition - so you get the complete picture in one visit. Trusted by 1,000+ clients, rated 5 stars on Google.



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