Osteoporosis occurs when bones lose their strength and thickness due to a loss of minerals (eg. calcium) that the body has difficulty replacing. The bones, especially in the hip, spine and wrist, lose their density, becoming more fragile and at risk of breaking.
Bones are living tissues that are continuously broken down and replaced. In the early years of life, more bone is made than broken down, therefore any bone loss is quickly replaced. Our bone growth is completed at around 30 years old and as we get older, more bone is lost than the body can replace.