Osteoporosis and its associated problems are major health concerns in Australia, and are commonly encountered in general practice. As the population ages, the incidence of osteoporosis will continue to increase. Hence, it is important for general practitioners and healthcare professionals to remain up to date with the strategies involved in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Over the last few years, there have been significant advances in our understanding and treatment of osteoporosis. It is now clear that osteoporosis is a problem for men as well as for women. Accurate and reliable measurements to diagnose osteoporosis, and effective medications to treat it, are now available. These guidelines have been prepared to help general practitioners identify people at risk of developing osteoporosis, and to inform general practitioners on the current diagnosis and treatment strategies of the condition. We commend these guidelines to you as a reference source for the treatment of people with osteoporosis.