Lifting very heavy weights can thicken and strengthen bones. Lack of calcium can cause osteoporosis, but taking extra calcium will not treat that condition. Bones need hormones and other chemicals to incorporate extra calcium into their structure. Osteoporosis is caused by lack of estrogen in women after the menopause and lack of the male hormone, testosterone in men when they are treated for prostate cancer that has spread. Replacing sex hormones strengthens bones.
Male hormones are far more effective than female ones, even in women.
So, people cannot treat osteoporosis by taking extra calcium or by regular exercise. They can treat osteoporosis by replacing their sex hormones if they lack them. Women can strengthen their bones maximally by taking two female hormones, estrogen and progesterone, and also the male hormone, testosterone. People who have osteoporosis and still have their sex hormones can be treated with alindronate pills or calcitonin nasal sprays. I'm Dr. Gabe Mirkin on Fitness.