One in Three Women are at risk a fragility fracture

1 in 3 women over 50 in New Zealand will sustain a fragility fracture in their lifetime. (Osteoporosis NZ / International Osteoporosis Foundation, 2025)

A fragility fracture is one caused by a force that wouldn't break a healthy bone — a minor fall, a stumble, sometimes just an awkward movement.

Hip fractures are the most serious outcome. They almost always require surgery. And the statistics that follow are sobering.

Dr. Vonda Wright is a double board-certified orthopaedic surgeon and author of Unbreakable: A Woman's Guide to Aging with Power. She states it plainly: 70% of all hip fractures occur in women. Around 30% of women will die within the year after breaking their hip. And 50% will never return to their pre-fracture level of function — or to their own home.

Multiple clinical studies back this up. One-year mortality after hip fracture is consistently reported between 20–35% across populations — far exceeding what would be expected for the same age group without a fracture. To put it in perspective: the risk of dying in the year after a hip fracture is comparable to a diagnosis of breast cancer.

The average hospital stay in New Zealand after a hip fracture is 20 days. Average direct hospital costs can exceed NZD$70,000. Around a third of patients lose their independence and require institutional care. The human cost — lost mobility, lost autonomy, lost years — is harder to measure.

Up to 10% of all New Zealanders are currently living with osteoporosis, and with our population ageing rapidly, these numbers are only going to grow.

What can I do?

You just need to start building your strength — and to start correctly.

Book a free 20-minute assessment at Surpass Fitness in Waikanae. We will talk about where you are, what your goals are, and what the right starting point looks like for you.

Your bones are responding to every training session — or not responding to the absence of one. The window is open. And it matters more right now than it ever will again.