1. Walk if you don’t, run if you do

Walking is good. Running is better if you’re already a walker; the key is to put more weight on your frame than it’s used to.

Weight-bearing exercise strengthens bones in two ways: it prompts muscle to pull on the bone and it makes the bone react to high-impact force. Both of these actions encourage bone building.

Studies have also found that maintaining bone marrow health keeps bones healthy. With age our bone marrow is inclined to turn to fat, rather like the rest of us. And fat has a negative impact on bone metabolism.