What is osteoporosis?

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    Last Updated: May 16, 2025

    Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to thin and weaken, which makes them fragile and prone to fractures, particularly in the hip, spine, and wrist. It often goes unnoticed until a bone breaks, and it affects millions of people in the United States who are either diagnosed or at high risk due to low bone mass.

    Osteoporosis is a disease that thins and weakens the bones. Bones become fragile and fracture (break) easily, especially the bones in the hip, spine, and wrist. In the United States, millions of people either already have osteoporosis or are at high risk due to low bone mass. Osteoporosis is a silent disease, meaning some people don’t know they have it until a bone is broken.[1]

    What is osteoporosis? - Examine