A bone breaks every 3.4 minutes across Australia, osteoporosis report shows

An Australian breaks, snaps or cracks a bone every 3.4 minutes due to poor bone health, a new analysis shows as experts predict rising rates of osteoporosis among our ageing population.

More than 155,000 people nationally are expected to break a bone in 2016, according to preliminary data from Osteoporosis Australia's burden of disease report.

Over 50,803 of those fractures will be in NSW and ACT, followed by Victoria with more than 40,000 and Queensland with 31,000.

Roughly two-thirds of adults aged 50 and over have osteoporosis or osteopenia, the analysis found, amounting to $3 billion in direct and indirect costs associated with the conditions in 2016.

Hip fractures and other common breaks are predicted to increase with the ageing population.

By 2022, an estimated 6.2 million Australians aged 50 and over will have osteoporosis, a 31 per cent increase since 2012, according to the data.

The cost of fractures alone is expected to be $33.6 billion between 2012 and 2022.

To combat the creaking onslaught of brittle bones, Osteoporosis Australia and the Garvan Institute have launched an online tool designed to help people recognise their bone fracture risk.

Launched by federal Minister for Health Sussan Ley, the 'Know Your Bones' tool assesses age, gender, weight, bone mineral density, lifestyle factors and history of fracture and falls.

The assessment tool was based on the findings of a 26-year Dubbo Osteoporosis Epidemiology Study that found after an initial fracture the risk of breaking another bone doubles in women and increases three to four times in men.

The Dubbo study also confirmed a strong link between major fractures and premature death, said Jacqueline Center of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research.

"Given the community's thirst for credible health information, this innovative bone health self-assessment tool will offer consumers a simple summary of their fracture risk, which they can take to their GP for further discussion," Professor Center said.

All types of fractures, including hip, wrist, and spinal breaks, are expected to rise with our ageing population, the preliminary report predicts.

Men account for 30 per cent of all fractures linked to osteoporosis and osteopenia, conditions that were traditionally considered to be "women's disease".