7 vital family secrets you need to share

Has your mother ever broken her hip?

A staggering 80% of bone health is inherited from our parents - if one or both of your parents suffered from osteoporosis, your risk is higher, too. And if your mum or dad had a broken bone after a minor fall, particularly a hip fracture, you are at greater risk of the same thing happening to you.

What can you do?
The good news is that it's not all down to your genes. Even with a family history of osteoporosis, taking protective measures can tip the balance in your favour.

● Take regular weight-bearing exercise - jogging, stair climbing, heavy gardening, racket sports, step aerobics or dancing.

● Don't smoke and eat a healthy, low-salt, calcium-rich diet, without too much caffeine and fizzy drinks.

● Talk to your GP about DXA scanning if you think you're at risk - or break a bone after a minor fall and haven't been investigated for osteoporosis.

● To find out more about the condition, call the National Osteoporosis Society on 0845 450 0230 or visit www.nos.org.uk