June 2026
Osteoporosis and declining bone density are among the most significant long-term health risks facing women, particularly after the menopausal transition, when falling oestrogen accelerates bone turnover; half of women over 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis, yet bone health attracts little attention until a fracture occurs. Bone strength is substantially modifiable through weight-bearing exercise and the adequate absorption of bone-critical nutrients, the latter dependent on gut health. This study characterised, among women, their awareness of and concern about bone health, their uptake of protective behaviours, their recognition of the gut–bone link, the symptoms they already experience, and the strategies they use. The survey was conducted by DR.VEGAN®.
A cross-sectional online survey was completed by 343 women, with individual-level data for all analyses. It captured age and menopausal status; awareness of and concern about bone health and postmenopausal risk; confidence in reducing risk through lifestyle; diagnosed bone and gut conditions; digestive symptoms and beliefs about the gut–bone link; weight-bearing and resistance exercise; musculoskeletal symptoms; and current use of medication, supplements, collagen and protein. The sample was entirely female and concentrated in midlife, 79.6% aged 45–64 and 83.4% peri- or postmenopausal, the group at greatest risk of accelerated bone loss. Percentages are reported among women answering each item.
Awareness of the postmenopausal risk to bone health was high, at 88.2% (42.0% extremely aware) and 77.2% were concerned about their bone strength. However, awareness of the specific scale of risk was weaker: 53.3% were unaware that half of women over 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis. Confidence to act was split, only 52.0% felt confident they could reduce their osteoporosis risk through lifestyle, with the remaining 48.0% unsure or not confident. See Figure 1.
| Awareness, concern and confidence | % of women |
|---|---|
| Awareness and concern | |
| Aware of postmenopausal bone-health risks (extremely + somewhat) | 88.2% |
| Concerned about their bone strength (very + a little) | 77.2% |
| Very concerned | 26.1% |
| Unaware that half of women 50+ will break a bone from osteoporosis* | 53.3% |
| Confidence to act | |
| Confident they can reduce osteoporosis risk through lifestyle | 52.0% |
| Not sure or not confident they can | 48.0% |
High awareness did not translate into protective behaviour. Only 34.7% of women did weight-bearing or resistance exercise, the most evidence-based intervention for maintaining bone density, daily or a few days a week, while 42.0% did so rarely or never. Critically, this gap persisted regardless of awareness or concern: 42.6% of those aware of the risk and 43.3% of those concerned about their bones, still exercised rarely or never. Meanwhile, musculoskeletal symptoms were already widespread, affecting 78.7% of women, most commonly joint (66.5%) and back (48.4%) pain. See Figure 2.
| Protective behaviour and current symptoms | % of women |
|---|---|
| Weight-bearing / resistance exercise | |
| Daily or a few days a week | 34.7% |
| Rarely or never | 42.0% |
| The awareness–action gap | |
| Of those AWARE of the risk: exercise rarely or never | 42.6% |
| Of those CONCERNED about bones: exercise rarely or never | 43.3% |
| Musculoskeletal symptoms already experienced | |
| At least one issue (joint/back pain, fracture, injury, posture) | 78.7% |
| Joint aches or pain | 66.5% |
| Back aches or pain | 48.4% |
Gut health is integral to bone health through the absorption of calcium, vitamin D and other bone-critical nutrients, yet 43.3% of women were unsure of or did not recognise the link, despite 37.3% having a diagnosed gut condition and 34.7% experiencing bloating regularly or every day. Just 56.7% considered gut health important for their bones. See Figure 3.
| Digestive health and the gut–bone link | % of women |
|---|---|
| Recognise digestion / gut health as important for bone health | 56.7% |
| Not sure or do not recognise the gut–bone link | 43.3% |
| Have a diagnosed gut health condition | 37.3% |
| Experience bloating regularly or every day | 34.7% |
| Experience constipation regularly or every day | 16.3% |
Protective and therapeutic action lagged behind concern. Although 77.2% were concerned about their bones, 41.1% were taking no supplement, medication, or medical support for bone health; 37.9% were taking a supplement. Collagen, conventionally an animal- or fish-derived product, had been used for bone health by 38.2% and 14.9% had taken a protein supplement. Walking was by far the most common form of exercise (71.4%), though it is only modestly weight-bearing. Interest in new solutions was high: 67.9% wanted to hear about a new postmenopause bone-health product, rising to 73.2% among those already concerned. See Figure 4.
| Current management and strategies | % of women |
|---|---|
| Active management for bone / joint health | |
| Taking a supplement | 37.9% |
| Taking medication or under medical supervision | 16.6% |
| None of the above | 41.1% |
| Specific strategies | |
| Have taken a collagen supplement for bone health | 38.2% |
| Have taken a daily protein supplement | 14.9% |
| Walking / hill walking (most common exercise) | 71.4% |
| Unmet interest | |
| Interested in a new postmenopause bone-health product | 67.9% |
This survey of 343 women, the large majority peri- or postmenopausal and at heightened risk of bone loss, reveals a striking disconnect between awareness and action. Awareness of postmenopausal risk (88.2%) and concern (77.2%) were high, but neither reliably translated into the single most protective behaviour: over 40% of women, including those aware and concerned, rarely or never do weight-bearing or resistance exercise. Three implications follow. First, messaging has raised awareness but not action; the priority is converting concern into specific, achievable behaviours, particularly resistance and weight-bearing exercise and addressing the low confidence (48% unsure or not confident) that likely underlies the gap. Second, the gut–bone link is materially under-recognised despite widespread digestive issues, an educational and nutritional opportunity given the gut’s role in absorbing bone-critical nutrients. Third, high concern, widespread existing symptoms, low current supplementation and strong interest in new solutions (67.9%) together signal a substantial unmet need for accessible, evidence-based support, including plant-based alternatives to animal-derived collagen. As a self-reported, cross-sectional survey of a predominantly midlife, menopausal sample, these findings describe associations rather than causation; prospective research would be needed to confirm whether targeted interventions can close the awareness–action gap.
Keywords: bone health, osteoporosis, postmenopause, bone density, weight-bearing exercise, awareness–action gap, gut–bone axis, collagen, supplementation, women’s health
Survey date: 2024–2025 | Sample size: N = 343 women | Population: 80% aged 45–64; 83% peri/postmenopausal | Data type: Individual-level responses
Media enquiries: Please contact [email protected] | www.drvegan.com
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