At age 80, nearly two thirds of the female population are affected. Women with the most severe disease, however, are those who develop the condition before age 50. What happens to bones in the first 20 years of life may be the most important thing in determining who will suffer from osteoporosis later in life, according to Richard Wasnich, MD and president of the Hawai'i Osteoporosis Foundation.
Bones are in constant state of change throughout life.
Old bone cells are lost and new bones are laid down. Prior to age 35, bones are built and store efficiently. After that, as part of the aging process, the body begins to lose bone mass faster than it can rebuild. While women are 4 to 5 times more likely to develop the illness, about 5 to 6 million men are also affected by osteoporosis. Prevention and treatment can delay the onset of the illness by as much as 20 to 30 years.