Osteoporosis is the most common bone disease in the world. The bones become less dense, lose strength, and are more prone to break (fracture). Osteoporosis means bones (osteo) with holes (porosis).
Osteopenia is when the bones have a low bone mass or low bone density, but not to the same degree as Osteoporosis. Osteopenia means bones (osteo) are lacking (penia). Osteoporosis can occur in women, men, children and athletes.
One in four men over the age of fifty will break a bone because of osteoporosis. In Ireland seven out of ten hip fractures happen to women due to osteoporosis.