Some health conditions and long-term medicines affect bone strength. These guides explain how steroids, thyroid disease, coeliac disease, rheumatoid arthritis and type 2 diabetes can raise fracture risk, and what UK guidance says about checking and protecting your bones if they apply to you.
Start here: Steroids and Bone Loss: Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis Explained
The Depo-Provera injection can lower bone density, but it usually recovers after stopping. UK advice on under-18s, 2-year reviews, side effects, alternatives.
Steroids, some breast and prostate cancer drugs, anti-seizure medicines, PPIs and others can weaken bones. What UK guidance says, and why not to stop them.
Coeliac disease is a cause of secondary osteoporosis: gut damage cuts calcium and vitamin D absorption. How a gluten-free diet helps bones, and UK scan advice.
Rheumatoid arthritis raises osteoporosis and fracture risk through inflammation, reduced mobility and steroid treatment. What protects your bones.
An overactive thyroid speeds up bone turnover, can lower bone density and raises fracture risk, especially after menopause. UK evidence and how to protect bone.
Type 2 diabetes can raise fracture risk even when a DEXA scan looks normal, because it harms bone quality, not just density. Why monitoring matters.
Steroid-induced osteoporosis: long-term oral steroids such as prednisolone are a leading cause, with bone loss fastest in the first months. Who's at risk.