More than 44 million people in the U.S., including roughly 30 million women, have osteoporosis, or severe bone mass loss. A serious disease, especially if left untreated or unmanaged, osteoporosis causes more than 1.5 million fractures each year, at an estimated cost of $14 billion each year, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
A “silent disease” that shows few symptoms in its early stages, osteoporosis (and its precursor, osteopenia) can be treated through lifestyle changes (for example, weight-bearing exercise), medication, and nutrition choices.
