Bone mineral density (BMD) scanning using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA, commonly referred to as DEXA) scanning is big business. Around the world, hundreds of millions of older women (and many men too), on the basis of their scan results, are prescribed potent drugs including bisphosphonates (Fosamax, Actonel, Reclast) and monoclonal antibodies (Prolia, Evenity), that come with a laundry list of adverse effects.

But bone density testing has been repeatedly demonstrated to be next to useless at predicting an individual’s risk of fracture.