Osteoporosis is a debilitating disease in which bones become fragile and more vulnerable to breaking and fracturing. If not prevented or if left untreated, osteoporosis can progress until a bone breaks, making the condition painfully evident. These broken bones, also known as fractures, occur typically in the hip, spine, and wrist and often require extensive recovery. Osteoporosis is a major public health threat for more than 28 million Americans, 80 percent of whom are women.
In the U.S. today, 10 million individuals already have the disease and 18 million more have low bone mass, placing them at increased risk for osteoporosis.
One in two women and one in eight men over age 50 will have an osteoporosis-related fracture in their lifetime.
Post-menopausal women are often more susceptible to osteoporosis as a result of possible hormonal imbalance.
An insufficient amount of nutrients, poor diet and lack of weight-bearing exercise can also contribute to the onset of osteoporosis.
