What is the slogan for osteoporosis and why are there different ones?

October 2, 2025 •

2 min read

Globally, osteoporosis causes over 8.9 million fractures annually, highlighting the critical need for awareness. Understanding what is the slogan for osteoporosis helps in recognizing the varied public health messaging used to combat this silent disease and encourage proactive bone health management.

Quick Summary

There is no single universal slogan for osteoporosis; instead, various awareness campaigns employ different themes, with the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) using messages like 'Say no to fragile bones' and 'It's Unacceptable!' to highlight different aspects of bone health advocacy.

Key Points

No Single Slogan: There is no universal slogan for osteoporosis; awareness comes from multiple, campaign-specific messages.
Annual Themes: The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) often uses different themes and slogans for World Osteoporosis Day.
Examples Include: Recent slogans feature 'Say no to fragile bones' (2024) and 'It's Unacceptable!' (2025).
Targeted Messaging: Variety in slogans allows tailoring campaigns to different audiences and aspects like prevention or treatment gaps.
The 'Silent Thief': Osteoporosis is commonly called 'the silent thief' due to its asymptomatic nature before fractures.
Purpose of Variety: Multiple slogans help prevent message fatigue and encourage actions from self-education to advocacy.

Multiple Slogans for a Complex Condition

Osteoporosis, often called the "silent disease," uses diverse public health messaging to reach different audiences. The absence of one universal slogan reflects the evolving nature of awareness campaigns, which often change annually to focus on specific themes or target populations.

Evolving Campaigns from the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF)

The IOF leads the annual World Osteoporosis Day (WOD) on October 20th, with each year featuring a new theme and slogans to achieve specific goals. This dynamic approach prevents message fatigue and allows focus on different aspects of the disease. Examples include "It's Unacceptable!" (2025) and "Say no to fragile bones" (2024). The theme for 2022 was "Step Up for Bone Health".

Slogans from the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation (BHOF)

Regional groups like the BHOF in the U.S. also use campaign-specific messaging. Examples include "Break Free from Osteoporosis" and "Healthy Bones Are Always in Style" (2023 theme).

The Importance of Variety in Public Health Messaging

Multiple slogans serve several key communication purposes such as targeted outreach, addressing specific issues, preventing message fatigue, and empowering different actions.

A Deeper Look into the 'Silent Disease' Moniker

Osteoporosis is often called "the silent thief," indicating that bone mass is lost without symptoms until a fracture occurs.

Comparison of Recent Osteoporosis Slogans


Campaign	Slogan/Theme	Key Message	Target Audience
World Osteoporosis Day 2025	"It's Unacceptable!"	Criticizes the lack of follow-up care for fragility fractures.	Healthcare policy makers, providers, public
World Osteoporosis Day 2024	"Say no to fragile bones"	Promotes preventative action for bone health at all ages.	General public
World Osteoporosis Day 2022	"Step Up for Bone Health"	Encourages proactive lifestyle changes and accessible treatment.	Individuals, healthcare orgs
BHOF Campaign	"Break Free from Osteoporosis"	Empowers individuals to understand and manage their risk factors.	High-risk individuals

Conclusion: The Power of Persistent Messaging

In conclusion, osteoporosis awareness relies on diverse slogans from organizations like the IOF and BHOF, rather than a single universal message. Slogans like 'Say no to fragile bones' and 'It's Unacceptable!' address different facets of bone health. This varied approach is crucial for broad outreach and driving action to protect bone health.

For more information on bone health and osteoporosis prevention, consult the {Link: Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation https://www.bonehealthandosteoporosis.org/building-awareness/}.

Frequently Asked Questions

For 2025, the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) campaign theme is "It's Unacceptable!", highlighting insufficient diagnosis and treatment.

No, there is no single, universal slogan. Organizations like the IOF and BHOF use various themes and slogans for campaigns.

Osteoporosis is often called "the silent disease" or "the silent thief" because it progresses without symptoms until a fracture.

Different slogans target various aspects, prevent message fatigue, and engage different audiences, focusing on prevention, risk factors, or systemic issues.

The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) organizes World Osteoporosis Day and develops the campaign themes and slogans.

Slogans like "Step Up for Bone Health" and "Say no to fragile bones" promote proactive bone health through exercise, nutrition, and prevention.

The 'It's Unacceptable!' campaign focuses on the failure of healthcare systems to properly diagnose and treat osteoporosis, particularly after a fragility fracture, and advocates for policy change.