Sally Field, the 79-year-old star of Smokey and the Bandit, received a life-changing diagnosis of osteoporosis after undergoing a routine bone scan in her mid-50s. The scan was prompted because she "fit the risk profile" for the condition—being "thin, small-boned, Caucasian and heading towards age 60."
Field admitted, "I was amazed at how quickly a woman could go from being at risk to having full-fledged osteoporosis."
What Is Osteoporosis?
The NHS defines osteoporosis as a condition that "weakens bones, making them fragile and more likely to break." It is often only diagnosed after a fall or sharp impact causes a bone to break. Even a cough or sneeze can lead to a broken rib or a collapsed spine bone in osteoporosis patients. The condition can also cause a stooped posture as spine bones break, making it difficult for the bones to support the body's weight.
In 2007, National Osteoporosis Foundation president Ethel Siris warned, "A hip fracture can kill you. There is a 20% increased mortality in the year after a hip fracture." She noted that 50% of those who survive "will need a cane or walker for the rest of their life."
Treatment and Advocacy
Fortunately, osteoporosis has effective treatment methods if caught early enough. Field remained an active sportswoman despite her diagnosis, engaging in "hiking, biking and extreme yoga on a regular basis." She turned to monthly medication Boniva, a drug that works to slow bone loss.
Field admitted, "At first I was nervous. I thought, this is a big pill, and I worried something bad would happen."
She told Ability Magazine: "I'm the spokesperson for osteoporosis. It's a huge epidemic, primarily because of this very large group of women who are now turning 60. Fortunately, osteoporosis has a very effective treatment if women are informed early. They need to be made aware of their risk and what to do to protect themselves; for instance, that they should be getting bone density scans at a certain age. In fact, this even extends to men. 20% of men are diagnosed with osteoporosis."
Ongoing Monitoring
Field explained, "You have to look for it to find it. I wouldn't have been aware if I'd not had a fine doctor who was watching for it from my late 40s on. Because I'm so small, I have very little bone to lose before I'm at risk. So he started doing regular bone scans, beginning in my 40s, to get a baseline and watch for changes. At some point I entered a phase called osteopenia, the first stage of bone loss before you progress to osteoporosis."
Field undergoes yearly bone scans but says she doesn't feel "frail" and has not lost her energy. In 2026, she told USA Today ahead of her 80th birthday: "I thought maybe I'd climb Mount Everest. Maybe it's a good time to do that. No, I don't have any plans for anything except getting through today would be good. And tomorrow might even be nice. By the middle of next week, I'll start to have a plan."
