Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to weaken.
Bones become increasingly fragile and may fracture easily. The disease often progresses painlessly until a bone breaks, usually in the hip, spine, or wrist. Women are four times more likely than men to develop the disease, mainly due to the loss of estrogen at menopause. Family history, diet, and lifestyle all play roles in determining risk for osteoporosis. Some people develop the disease even though they may seem to be at low risk.