Could your mental health be affecting your bones
25 May 2011

Could your mental health be affecting your bones?

1 mins to read
Find out how your mood may be linked to the health of your bones.


With 1 in 2 women and 1 in 3 men experiencing an osteoporotic fracture in Australia, identifying and managing the risks of osteoporosis have never been more important.

We know that a lack of calcium, vitamin D and exercise, plus excessive alcohol and caffeine consumption and smoking, all increase the risk of developing this disease; however it appears that our mental health may also be linked to our bone health.

A new study has found a link between bone mineral density (BMD) and symptoms associated with depression and anxiety.

In the study, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, researchers examined data from The Nord-Trøndelag Health Study 2 in Norway in which data was collected from more than 8,000 men and women.

The study participants' BMD was measured at the forearm and anxiety and depressive symptoms were measured using what’s known as the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD). Any medications and lifestyle factors were also taken into consideration, particularly those associated with both bone and mental health symptoms.

The researchers suggested that BMD was lower with both depressive and anxiety symptoms in men, while in women it was lower in depressive symptoms where total body weight was higher. They concluded that the evidence supports the need to monitor BMD in people diagnosed with mental health issues.

Williams LJ et al. The association between depressive and anxiety symptoms and bone mineral density in the general population: The HUNT Study, J. Affect. Disord. (2011), doi:10.1016/j.jad.2010.11.019



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