During childhood and early adulthood, new bone is formed faster than old bone is removed. Bone mass, or density, usually peaks between the ages of 25 and 35. After that, bone loss occurs faster than new bone is formed. Osteoporosis develops when this loss is too fast and excessive, causing bones to become thin, and increasing the chance of fractures. Women suffer from osteoporosis more than men due to a number of factors.
Women tend to have smaller, thinner bones than men, making loss of bone density more serious.
In addition, loss of estrogen after menopause greatly accelerates bone loss. Because there are no symptoms, the first signs of osteoporosis usually occur when the disease is well advanced. Back pain, curvature of the upper back and fractures are common results of osteoporosis. A diet rich in calcium helps keep bones strong. Dairy products and vegetables such as broccoli and spinach are good sources of calcium.