Ceri Thomas Senior advanced clinical practitioner, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, Bridgend, Wales Nurses can help prevent fragility fractures with education on diet, exercise and lifestyle choices Osteoporosis is a systemic bone disease characterised by reduced bone mass and qualitative changes in bone structure, with bone densitometry T-scores of less than -2.5 at the lumbar spine or femoral neck (World Health Organization 2003). Nursing Older People. 38, 3, 16-16.