It is one of the five leading causes of death in women today. The good news is, osteoporosis is preventable for many people. And it can be treatable in those who already have it. While women and men can both develop osteoporosis, women are eight times more likely to be afflicted. Here are the main reasons that women, especially older women, are at such high risk.
Women have less bone mass at adulthood than men do.
As women age, they are therefore more vulnerable to any loss of bone. The male hormone testosterone protects men's bones as they age into their 60s and 70s. Younger women who have anorexia or super-athletes with amenorrhea may also be at risk for bone mass loss due to decreased estrogen. Some women are at higher risk than others for osteoporosis. Women with a family history of osteoporosis are more likely to develop the disease, and women with fair hair and complexion tend to be more susceptible to it.