We subscribe Clic k this image to email us. This silent disease gradually weakens bones, causing them to become brittle and prone to fractures.
Osteoporosis is much more common in women than men.
Four out of 5 cases are women. This is because women have less bone mass than men, tend to live longer and take in less dietary calcium. Women also need the female hormone estrogen to keep their bones strong. If men live long enough, they also are at risk of getting osteoporosis in later life. Once total bone mass has peaked, at about age 35, all adults start to lose it.