Osteopenia refers to bone mineral density (BMD) that is lower
than normal peak BMD but not low enough to be classified as
osteoporosis. Bone mineral density is a measurement of the level
of minerals in the bones, which shows how dense and strong they
are. Bones naturally become thinner as people grow older
because, beginning at about 30 years of age, existing bone cells
are reabsorbed by the body faster than new bone is made. As this
occurs, the bones lose minerals, heaviness (mass), and
structure, making them weaker and increasing their risk of
breaking. Both women and men are more likely to have osteopenia
if they fail to reach their peak bone mineral density by age 30.
Women are more likely to develop osteopenia than men. This is
because women have a lower peak BMD and because the loss of bone
mass speeds up as hormonal changes take place at the time of
menopause. eMedicineHealth Medical Reference from Healthwise To
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