We often think about osteoporosis as a disease that only women need to worry about. But men can be affected too. Osteoporosis is characterized by weak, brittle and porous bones. In fact, NOF says one in two women and one in eight men over age 50 will have an osteoporosis-related fracture in their lifetime. How it develops We may think our bones are solid and unchanging, but they're not.
Bone is living tissue.
As people age, more bone is broken down than is replaced. As a result, the insides of the bones become more porous, because much more bone is destroyed than is replaced. This makes the bones weaker. Although osteoporosis usually become a problem in older people, it often has its roots in the habits of our youth. The good news is that by developing positive habits, younger people can help reduce their risk of getting osteoporosis later on.