A self-administrated questionnaire was performed to clarify the actual circumstances of community-based screening for osteoporosis. The results revealed that only 25 percent of communities performed follow-up of high-risk participants, representing a disappointing result for assessing evidence of the benefits of measuring bone mineral density in preventing osteoporosis. Secondly, a review of the literature was performed to clarify the benefits of measuring bone mineral density in preventing osteoporosis. The review revealed that increased measurements could predict fractures among elderly and peri- and postmenopausal women, and elderly men.