Osteoporosis is the condition of diminished bone density from normal. This makes the bone weaker, more likely to break, and slower to heal.
The World Health Organization has defined osteoporosis using standardized bone density measurements. A normal bone has over 833mg/cm2. Osteopenia is a density of between 648 and 833mg/cm2. Osteoporosis is less than 648mg/cm2.
Osteoporosis is classically seen in elderly women, but it can be seen in either gender. Conditions that are associated with osteoporosis are aging, menopause, steroid use, smoking, poor nutrition, inactivity.