Osteoporosis is most common in which population?

• A. Men
• B. Women
• C. Children
• D. Athletes

Answer: (B)

Bone strength depends on a balance between building new bone and resorbing old bone. Estrogen helps keep this balance toward bone maintenance. After menopause, estrogen levels drop, which accelerates bone resorption and reduces bone density more quickly. Because women experience this hormonal change and generally have lower peak bone mass to begin with, osteoporosis becomes much more common in women, especially as they age. Men do get osteoporosis as well, but less frequently and typically later, while children and athletes aren’t the groups at highest risk in the general population.