Osteoporosis is a condition where bones become weak and brittle and break easily. It most commonly affects post-menopausal women. Bones reach their maximum strength in one's 20s and 30s, but then begin losing density after age 35 as more bone is lost than replaced. Risk factors include age, sex, menopause, diet, family history, smoking, alcohol, and lack of exercise. Weight-bearing exercises are important for building strong bones and reducing osteoporosis risk by maximizing peak bone density when young.

1. Osteoporosis Osteoporosis (literally meaning 'porous bones ‘) is a condition where the bones - particularly those of the spine, wrist and the hips - become weak and brittle and therefore break easily It affects men, women and children but is most common in POST-MENOPAUSAL WOMEN

2. Bone Growth Bones are made from a honeycomb of strands formed by the protein collagen and hardened by CALCIUM SALTS and other minerals This honeycomb is filled with bone marrow and blood vessels and protected by a dense outer shell. Scattered throughout are millions of living bone cells, which continually break down and replace old bone Bones reach maximum strength and density at 25 to 30 years, known as peak bone density . However, from the age of 35 onwards more bone cells are lost than replaced and the holes of the honeycomb become larger, leaving bones weaker and more likely to break. This causes the bone density to DECREASE

3. Risk factors for Osteoporosis There are many factors which increase the risk of developing osteoporosis in later life including: AGE: Peak bone density occurs between 25 and 35 years of age, after which mineral loss from bone increases as a natural consequence of aging SEX : Men tend to have a higher peak bone density and so it takes men longer to reach the level of bone loss which will make their bones brittle MENOPAUSE : In women, oestrogen contributes to bone density by promoting the absorption of calcium from the digestive system and preventing its removal from bone. After the menopause oestrogen levels drop, causing more calcium to be lost from bone DIET : Calcium from the diet is laid down in bones and teeth, making them strong and hard and vitamin D is needed for the absorption of calcium from the digestive system FAMILY HISTORY SMOKING AND EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION : both increase the rate of bone loss EXERCISE: Both insufficient and excessive exercise can increase the risk of osteoporosis

4. Effect of Exercise The most important thing you can do to prevent osteoporosis developing is to keep your bones strong and healthy by maximising peak bone density while you're young Bone becomes stronger and denser when it is subjected to mechanical stress . This happens during WEIGHT BEARING EXERCISES such as brisk walking, jogging etc . Tennis players, for example, have a 30 per cent higher bone density in their serving arm than in their non-serving arm Therefore, in order to reduce the risk of osteoporosis, it is vital to carry out weight bearing exercise on a regular basis during adolescence and beyond, so that peak bone density is maximised