Postmenopausal women who gain or lose weight are at increased risk of fracture but at different sites, a BMJ study reports.

The study of over 120,000 healthy postmenopausal women  taking part in the Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study found that compared with stable weight, weight loss was associated with a 65% increase in hip fracture, a 9% increase in upper limb fracture, and a 30% increase in central body fracture.

Weight gain was associated with a 10% increase in upper limb fractures and an 18% increase in lower limb fractures, but no difference in central body fractures, found the study that followed the women for up to 11 years.

In an accompanying editorial Juliet Compston, emeritus professor of bone medicine at Cambridge University, said unintentional weight loss of 5% or more in postmenopausal women “should be regarded as a risk factor for fracture, particularly hip fracture.”

It also emphasises the need for measures to prevent bone loss during interventions to reduce weight, she added.