The Day I Learned Bones Are Not Boring

If you’d told me a few years ago that I’d be passionately discussing osteoporosis on my podcast, I might’ve raised an eyebrow. Bones? Really?

But something shifted the day I sat down with Dr Tahir Mahmud, Co-Founder of the London Osteoporosis Clinic. What started as a simple interview turned into a transformative conversation one that made me reflect on my body, my health, and the silent stories our bones carry.

I used to think bones were, well… boring. Not as poetic as the heart or as complex as the brain. But Dr Mahmud changed that for me.

An Accidental Passion with Life-Altering Purpose

Dr Mahmud didn’t set out to dedicate his life to bone health. As he shared, his journey into osteoporosis started rather by chance, stepping into a role where his predecessor had a special interest in the condition. What followed was more than two decades of not just treating it but understanding its deeper impact on humanity.

One sentence he said really stuck with me:

“What would it be like actually not to have osteoporosis in the first place?”

It’s not just about treating disease, it’s about preventing it. About seeing health as something we preserve long before something goes wrong.

Bones Tell Stories

What floored me during our chat is just how dynamic our bones are. They’re not static. They grow, shrink, repair, and regenerate every single day. And yet, we rarely think about them until something breaks.

Osteoporosis, as Dr Mahmud explained, doesn’t sneak up on us overnight. It’s a slow, silent process, often taking decades before a fracture finally alerts us. But by then, the damage is done.

And here’s the thing: It’s largely preventable.

The 2040 Mission: A World Without Osteoporosis

Dr Mahmud and his team at the Global Osteoporosis Foundation have a bold goal: to eliminate osteoporotic fractures by 2040.

I admire that kind of ambition. It reminds me that when people rally around a shared purpose armed with science, empathy, and community, change isn’t just possible, it’s inevitable.

But the journey starts with awareness. And that’s why we recorded this episode. Because if you’re anything like me, you probably haven’t thought about your bones since biology class.

So, Why Should You Care About Your Bones?

Here’s what I learned:

Osteoporosis can affect anyone, not just the elderly.
Each pregnancy costs women up to 5% of their bone mass.
DEXA scans (bone density scans) are accessible and often underutilized.
The earlier we screen, move, nourish, and monitor, the better our chances of avoiding fractures later in life.

I left this conversation feeling both awakened and slightly guilty for how long I’d taken my own health for granted. But it’s never too late to change.

Want to know your bone health risk?
Take the free osteoporosis risk questionnaire on the Global Osteoporosis Foundation site:
🔗 sticksandstones.org

Listen to the Full Episode

We only get one body. And our bones? They are the silent foundation holding everything together. Let’s not wait until something breaks to start caring. Don’t miss my full conversation with Dr Mahmud on your favourite podcast platforms.

– Written By Hala Ali