At least 600,000 Australians are affected by osteoporosis, a disease that causes bones to become fragile and weak and increasing the risk of fracture, according to a report released 4 August by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and Osteoporosis Australia.

A 'silent' disease, osteoporosis usually shows no signs or symptoms, and so often goes undiagnosed until a fracture occurs.

Osteoporosis affects mostly women and men of middle-age and older.

According to the report, A picture of osteoporosis in Australia, launched 4 August by Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliott, at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, 1 in 2 women and 1 in 4 men over the age of 60 will suffer an osteoporotic fracture in their lifetime.

'These fractures may lead to chronic pain, activity restrictions, loss of independence and, sometimes, death,' said Dr Kuldeep Bhatia, Head of the AIHW's National Centre for Monitoring Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Conditions.

Management of osteoporosis includes medication, exercise, physical therapy and healthy eating. About 43 per cent of Australians with osteoporosis take pharmaceuticals and 40 per cent use vitamin/mineral supplements (such as calcium and Vitamin D).

According to Dr Emma Duncan, staff specialist in endocrinology at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, osteoporotic fractures occur most commonly in the hip, spine and wrist.

Medical Director of Osteoporosis Australia, Professor Peter Ebeling, said osteoporosis was largely preventable, with key preventive actions being 'a healthy diet, adequate vitamin D levels, regular exercise and not smoking'.

'These actions can also help people with osteoporosis to reduce their risk of fracture,' he said.