The bones in your body are made mostly of collagen, a protein that makes softer bone tissue, and calcium carbonate, a mineral that makes bones strong and supportive. All bones are made of living tissue. The body is constantly creating new bone cells and removing older ones. Our biggest growth spurts, like the ones that happen to infants and preteens, occur when our bodies make lots of new bone cell material faster than the old stuff is being removed. Once we hit about the age of 18, bone cells are produced and eliminated at about the same rate.

Around thirty years old, our bodies stop making new bone material so quickly. This means that our bones are having more taken out than put in, which means that bones begin to lose strength and density. Usually, once a person hits thirty, 0.4% of bone strength is lost yearly. Osteoporosis occurs when a person’s bones become so weak and lose so much density that they break very easily.  Most fractures, or breaks, occur in the hipbones, vertebrae, wrists, and arms.  Fractures are very painful and can cause lasting medical damage, such as chronic back pain, trouble walking, and other long lasting bodily pain.  Osteoporosis also often leads to bad posture and also makes bones actually shrink in size. 

Causes of Osteoporosis
What causes osteoporosis?  The major factor that leads to osteoporosis is insufficient consumption of important vitamins and minerals. People get too little calcium (a mineral that helps reduce bone loss), vitamin D (helps maintain bone density), vitamin K (promotes strong bones) and vitamin A (helps bone growth) in their diet. 99% of the calcium in your body is used to make strong bones.  If someone doesn’t eat enough calcium, his or her body can’t make bones stronger. Since bones basically stop growing after the teenage years, it’s very important to keep lots of calcium in your diet as a kid or a teenager. Eating the right foods now can help prevent osteoporosis in the future.

Controllable Risk Factors
If people don’t treat their bodies well, by drinking too much or smoking too much, it can also increase the risk of osteoporosis. A person who takes steroids or antacids for a prolonged period of time also has a higher risk of osteoporosis.  Also, eating disorders, like anorexia and bulimia, leave the body very weak and lacking in important vitamins and minerals. Eating disorders are very dangerous, and one of the many terrible effects of an eating disorder is the increased likelihood of the development of osteoporosis.  

Uncontrollable Risk Factors
There are some factors that increase a person’s risk of developing osteoporosis that cannot be controlled. For example, women are much more likely to develop the disease than men are.  Asian and White women are more likely to develop it than are Black or Latino women.  Hormone problems and imbalance also increase the chances of developing osteoporosis as well.