The wrists, hips and spine are particularly at risk. During childhood and the teenage years the skeleton grows and develops, with the bones getting longer and the internal mesh becoming more dense until they achieve their greatest density when a person is in their late 20s. A natural part of the ageing process is that bones get weaker in people over 30 and the honeycomb becomes less dense. However, in some cases this occurs faster than in others leading to osteoporosis. A poor diet in youth can also lay the foundations for the disease in later life.
Women are particularly at risk because they have smaller more fragile bones to start off with.
This is complicated by the menopause during which the body stops producing oestrogen - a hormone essential for good bone health. And because of the natural ageing process, the risk increases with age. However, more and more research is indicating that the disease can affect younger people, with the National Osteoporosis Society reporting an increase in incidence of the disease among young women, particularly those who are underweight or who have suffered anorexia. Diet and exercise are the two key preventive measures. The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy says skipping, jogging and aerobics are the best exercises to beat the disease.