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ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge and health beliefs regarding osteoporosis risk factors of New Zealand women aged 20–49 years.DesignA descriptive, web-based survey.SubjectsAn opportunistic sample of 622 women aged between 20 and 49 years living in Auckland, New Zealand was recruited by email.ResultsThere was a moderate level of knowledge about osteoporosis risk factors among the women surveyed, with a mean total score for all subjects of 16.4 (standard deviation (SD) 4.0) out of a possible 26 correct responses. Mean scores for osteoporosis knowledge were statistically different by age group, with women aged 40–49 years scoring higher than those aged 30–39 years and 20–29 years (17.3 (SD 4.0), 16.4 (SD 4.1) and 15.8 (SD 3.9), respectively, P < 0.001). Overall, about a third of the women perceived that they were likely to develop osteoporosis and 22 …