A healthy diet rich in calcium and weight-bearing exercise such as walking, jogging and weight lifting help strengthen the bones. When individuals reach their 30s, however, their bones begin to lose density as bone mass depletion occurs more rapidly. Osteoporosis is most pronounced in women due to pregnancy and hormonal loss at menopause. For women, estrogen levels fall during menopause, causing a rapid loss of bone tissue. Estrogen helps to build strong, dense bones by facilitating the absorption of calcium.
Research indicates that women lose the most amount of bone in the first seven years after menopause.
A common treatment for postmenopausal women is hormone replacement therapy which replaces estrogen that is diminished due to menopause. The best way for an individual to prevent osteoporosis is to eat a healthy diet including vitamin D and calcium and participate in regular weight-bearing exercise throughout life. A woman's final menstrual period marks the onset of menopause. The average age at menopause is 51. However, some women reach menopause at 55, some in their early 40s.