I agree StellaJ. I would also urge everyone to get a scan done at least every few years, even if you think you are okay, and even if you have to pay for it, because osteopenia doesn't have any symptoms. So you won't know you've got it until it progresses to osteoporosis and you break a hip. Once an older person breaks a hip the life expectancy becomes very limited (usually around 3-4 years according to my GP, and that's about what it was for my father). If you take action in the early stages the general outcome will probably be a lot better.