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Osteoporosis is one of the 10 most important and widespread global diseases. In Germany alone the cost of osteoporosis runs into many billions of Euros. However, it should be noted that in the past 15 years great progress has been made both in diagnosis and in the development of new medications, and this has changed the general perception of and attitude to osteoporosis. It is now taken very seriously and recognised as a national and global disorder which is both preventable and treatable. In spite of this progress, in Europe and especially in Germany, osteoporosis remains an underdiagnosed and undertreated disease. In Germany, only about 10%-15% of patients with manifest osteoporosis are properly treated. However, in addition to national guidelines, there is now a new edition of the "European Position Paper for the Diagnosis and Management of Osteoporosis". This provides physicians treating osteoporosis patients with additional information and therefore more confidence.