Is Osteopenia a Sign of Osteoporosis?

Osteopenia is a low bone density that is not severe enough to be considered osteoporosis.

Bone Density Tests

• When you have a bone density test, you get a T-score. A score from 2.5 to -1 is considered normal bone density; between -1 and -2.5 is considered osteopenia, and below -2.5 reflects osteoporosis.

Risk

• Osteopenia is a major risk factor for osteoporosis.

Treatment

• According to the Harvard Medical School, you can treat osteopenia with exercise and nutrition or with medications, but some doctors are wary about drugs for osteopenia because the long-term effects are unknown.

Recommendations

• To help prevent the progression of osteopenia to osteoporosis, eat a healthy diet with enough calcium, magnesium, other minerals and vitamins D, K, and C; get regular physical activity that includes weight-bearing exercise; and avoid smoking and too much alcohol.

Considerations

• The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends bone density tests for women over 65, postmenopausal women younger than 65 who have one or more risk factors and postmenopausal women who have had a fracture. Risk factors include being small and thin, having a diet low in calcium and vitamin D, smoking and drinking too much alcohol.