In the U.S. today, between 10 million individuals already have the disease and 18.5 million more have low bone mass, placing them at increased risk for osteoporosis. Each year it leads to more than 1.5 million fractures that can cause permanent disability, loss of independence, or death. You or a family member could have osteoporosis or be at risk for developing the disease, and not even know it.
Osteoporosis causes the bones to become so fragile that they break with just the slightest movement.
According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, more than 300,000 hip fractures occur every year because of osteoporosis. The foundation also reports that more than 25 million Americans, mostly women, are at a high risk of developing osteoporosis. This used to be thought a concern primarily of menopausal and post-menopausal women, but now is a universal concern that crosses all age barriers. It is an over-simplification to state that bones need just calcium in order to stay healthy. This is like saying that a house can stand firm with walls, but does not need a foundation.