International Osteoporosis Foundation
Professional services
UnclaimedA global non-governmental alliance working to prevent, diagnose and treat osteoporosis and other musculoskeletal diseases.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) is a Switzerland-based non-governmental organization and global alliance focused on osteoporosis, fragility fractures and related diseases affecting bones, muscles and joints. Established in 1998, it was created through the merger of the European Foundation for Osteoporosis, founded in 1987, and the International Federation of Societies on Skeletal Diseases. The organization is headquartered in Nyon and works with national patient and medical societies, scientific experts, healthcare systems, governments and corporate advisers. IOF’s central purpose is to improve the prevention, early detection and treatment of osteoporosis and associated musculoskeletal conditions through international cooperation. Its work combines public education, professional guidance, scientific consensus-building, advocacy and support for health-service improvement. Rather than selling conventional consumer products, IOF provides information tools, clinical and policy resources, educational campaigns, research coordination and networks intended to improve bone health outcomes. The foundation’s membership and advisory structure includes a committee of national societies, a committee of scientific advisers and a corporate advisers’ committee. Its scientific working groups address subjects including fracture prevention, adherence to treatment, bone health in people with cancer or diabetes, epidemiology and quality of life, bone-marker standards, sarcopenia, impaired mobility, skeletal rare diseases and therapeutic targets. These groups produce reviews, guidelines, consensus statements and position papers for clinicians, researchers and policymakers. IOF is closely associated with international awareness and advocacy initiatives. It organizes World Osteoporosis Day each year on October 20, using the occasion to promote prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis and related conditions. Its Capture the Fracture program, created in 2012, supports secondary fracture prevention by encouraging the development and improvement of Fracture Liaison Services. The program’s Map of Best Practice recognizes participating services according to graded levels of performance. The foundation also publishes or supports specialist journals and research forums, including Osteoporosis International, Archives of Osteoporosis, Calcified Tissue International and Progress in Osteoporosis. It provides public-facing resources such as the IOF Osteoporosis Risk Check and Calcium Calculator, while its Global Patient Charter, launched in 2017 under the call for “No more broken bones,” advocates for better diagnosis, care, patient involvement and support. IOF has an international policy role as well as a scientific and educational one. It received roster consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council in 2008 and joined the Non-Communicable Disease Alliance in 2015. Since 2010, it has jointly organized the World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases with the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases. Through these activities, IOF positions itself as a coordinating and advocacy organization connecting evidence, public health policy and patient needs across countries.
History
The International Osteoporosis Foundation traces its institutional background to the European Foundation for Osteoporosis, established in 1987, and the International Federation of Societies on Skeletal Diseases. These organizations represented complementary European and international efforts to improve understanding and management of osteoporosis and other skeletal disorders. Their merger in 1998 created IOF as a broader alliance with an explicitly international scope. From its headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, IOF developed a model that combines professional societies, patient organizations, scientific advisers, corporate advisers and public-health stakeholders. Its activities extend beyond research communication: the foundation promotes early identification of people at risk, supports better clinical pathways, encourages national policy action and provides materials for patients and the general public. A major part of IOF’s work is scientific coordination. Its Committee of Scientific Advisors operates working groups covering clinical, epidemiological, translational and health-policy topics. The organization also publishes and supports specialist journals, including Osteoporosis International, Archives of Osteoporosis, Calcified Tissue International and Progress in Osteoporosis. These outlets provide forums for research on diagnosis, prevention, treatment, bone and muscle biology, and regional practice. IOF has also built a visible public-health platform around World Osteoporosis Day, observed annually on October 20. The event raises awareness of osteoporosis prevention, diagnosis and treatment and gives national societies a common international campaign framework. Its public resources include a risk-check questionnaire and a calcium-intake calculator designed to help individuals understand selected aspects of bone health. In 2008, IOF obtained roster consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. In 2012, it launched Capture the Fracture, a program intended to reduce the recurrence of fractures by supporting Fracture Liaison Services. The program’s Map of Best Practice grades services using bronze, silver and gold levels, creating a visible framework for service recognition and improvement. The foundation reports that the program has supported hundreds of services in dozens of countries. IOF’s international congress activity also expanded. The first World Congress on Osteoporosis was held in Chicago in 2000. Since 2010, IOF and the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases have jointly organized the annual World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases. IOF has additionally held regional meetings in Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region. The foundation’s advocacy became more explicitly patient-centered with the launch of the IOF Global Patient Charter in March 2017. Developed with osteoporosis patient societies, the charter calls for health authorities to improve access to diagnosis, care, participation and support. IOF also joined the Non-Communicable Disease Alliance in 2015, reinforcing its role in the wider global health-policy community. It remains an active international NGO focused on reducing the personal and public-health burden of osteoporosis and musculoskeletal disease.
- 2017
Global Patient Charter launched
[1]IOF launched a patient charter advocating improved osteoporosis diagnosis, care, involvement and support.
- 2015
Membership of the Non-Communicable Disease Alliance
[1]IOF joined the Non-Communicable Disease Alliance.
- 2012
Capture the Fracture launched
[1]IOF introduced its international secondary-fracture-prevention program and best-practice map for Fracture Liaison Services.
- 2010
World congress collaboration begins
[1]IOF began jointly organizing the annual World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases with ESCEO.
- 2008
UN consultative status
[1]IOF received roster consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.
- 2000
First World Congress on Osteoporosis
[1]The first World Congress on Osteoporosis was held in Chicago.
- 1998
International Osteoporosis Foundation established
[1]IOF was created by merging the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the International Federation of Societies on Skeletal Diseases.
- 1987
European Foundation for Osteoporosis founded
[1]One of the predecessor organizations of IOF was established in Europe to advance work on osteoporosis.
Products and positioning
A global, science-led osteoporosis and musculoskeletal-health alliance that connects patient organizations, clinicians, researchers, governments and healthcare systems.
Public awareness campaign
World Osteoporosis Day
An annual international awareness initiative organized by IOF and observed on October 20. It focuses on preventing, detecting and treating osteoporosis and related bone, muscle and joint diseases, while providing national societies and health advocates with a shared platform for public education.
Healthcare quality-improvement program · 2012
Capture the Fracture
A program launched in 2012 to improve secondary fracture prevention. It promotes Fracture Liaison Services and uses the Map of Best Practice to recognize service quality at bronze, silver and gold levels. The program is intended to help healthcare systems systematically identify and manage patients after fragility fractures.
Public health assessment tool
IOF Osteoporosis Risk Check
A public-facing questionnaire that helps individuals consider family history and personal clinical risk factors associated with osteoporosis. It is an educational awareness tool rather than a substitute for professional diagnosis.
Nutrition education tool
IOF Calcium Calculator
An online calculator designed to help people estimate whether their diets provide an appropriate amount of calcium. It supports IOF’s broader educational message that calcium intake contributes to maintaining healthy bones throughout life.
Patient advocacy framework · 2017
IOF Global Patient Charter
A patient-centered advocacy document launched in 2017 in cooperation with osteoporosis patient societies. Under the call for “No more broken bones,” it asks health authorities to improve access to diagnosis, treatment, involvement in care and ongoing support.
Scientific journal
Osteoporosis International
A public-health and clinical research journal published in cooperation with the National Osteoporosis Foundation. It covers diagnosis, prevention and management of osteoporosis and related musculoskeletal diseases.
Scientific journal
Archives of Osteoporosis
A research and professional forum published in cooperation with the National Osteoporosis Foundation, with particular relevance to regional research, clinical practice and guidelines.
Marketing campaigns
- 2017No more broken bones
Global
The call was used to launch the IOF Global Patient Charter, developed with patient societies to advocate for better osteoporosis care.
Outcome. The charter articulated patient rights and placed diagnosis, care, participation and support at the center of IOF’s advocacy agenda.
- 2012Capture the Fracture
Global
IOF launched Capture the Fracture to promote secondary fracture prevention and encourage the establishment of Fracture Liaison Services.
Outcome. The program created a global recognition framework and Map of Best Practice for participating services.
- World Osteoporosis Day
Global
IOF organizes the annual October 20 awareness day to focus public and professional attention on osteoporosis prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
Outcome. It provides a recurring international platform for education and coordinated activity by national osteoporosis organizations.
Brand decisions
2017
Make patient advocacy a formal international priorityStrategyBackground
Osteoporosis patients and patient societies sought stronger access to diagnosis, treatment, participation and long-term support.
Action taken
IOF launched its Global Patient Charter in cooperation with osteoporosis patient societies.
Aftermath
The charter gave IOF and its partners a shared advocacy framework centered on preventing avoidable fractures and improving patient care.
2012
Adopt a global secondary-fracture-prevention frameworkStrategyBackground
Patients who suffer fragility fractures can remain at elevated risk of additional fractures without systematic follow-up and treatment.
Action taken
IOF created Capture the Fracture to promote Fracture Liaison Services and publish a graded Map of Best Practice.
Aftermath
The initiative expanded IOF’s role from awareness and research coordination into healthcare-service improvement.
1998
Create IOF through predecessor-organization mergerM&ABackground
The European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the International Federation of Societies on Skeletal Diseases represented related but separate efforts in skeletal health.
Action taken
The organizations merged to establish the International Osteoporosis Foundation as an international alliance.
Aftermath
The new foundation combined professional, scientific and advocacy activities under a global osteoporosis-focused organization.
Sources2 sources
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