The conditions are very similar, yet they are also different.
Osteopenia is the precursor to the more severe disease of osteoporosis.
This article will also describe how it’s possible for you to determine if you have osteopenia or osteoporosis.
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However, bone mass, or density,changes as people age.
The structure of bones is continually built and remodeled throughout your lifetime.
This is the process that leads to osteopenia and osteoporosis.
Osteopenia and osteoporosis are similar since they are both defined by low bone mass.
The entities differ based on their severity.
A person with osteopenia has low bone mass, but it is not as severe as in osteoporosis.
Osteopenia and osteoporosis are silent diseases until a person breaks a bone.
You may only know that you have low bone mass if you complete special testing.
Causes
Osteopenia and osteoporosis are both forms of low bone mass.
Therefore, the causes are similar.
However, not everyone with osteopenia develops the more severe disease of osteoporosis.
Risk factors for low bone mass include:
Epidemiology
Osteoporosis prevalencediffers by sex.
About 19% of women over age 50 have osteoporosis in the same areas.
(Note that Verywell Health prefers to use inclusive terminology.
But when quoting research or clinical guidelines, the terms in those sources are used.
People assigned female at birth are often called females or women in those sources.)
Therefore, guidelines indicate that all postmenopausal women 50 years or older should be evaluated for low bone mass.
Osteopenia and osteoporosis are diagnosed through a bone mineral density test.
The test is also how one differentiates osteopenia from osteoporosis.
The more severe the loss of bone mass, the more likely a person is to have osteoporosis.
Treatment
Osteoporosis was once considered a disease that was inevitable as people aged.
However, preventive and ongoing treatments have been developed, especially since the year 2000.
The first step in therapy is to make diet and exercise adjustments.
Pharmacological therapy (medication) is reserved for people with more concerning disease.
For instance, estrogen therapy has long been known to improve bone health.
However, side effects can include increased cardiovascular disease and breast cancer risk.
Your primary care provider should decide the timing of treatment initiation.
Experts think this is because of medication side effects and questions regarding their long-term effectiveness.
Prevention
Taking steps toprevent low bone masscan help reduce osteopenia and osteoporosis.
If you already have a diagnosis of osteopenia or osteoporosis, you should take a stab at avoid falling.
Falls are the number one cause of fractures in older adults.
However, osteopenia is a precursor to the more severe disease of osteoporosis.
People do not have symptoms of low bone mass.
Sometimes people are only aware of the problem once they break a bone.
Treatment for osteopenia and osteoporosis is similar and starts with diet and exercise adjustments.
Pharmacotherapy is available and should be discussed with a healthcare provider.
A Word From Verywell
Osteopenia and osteoporosis are fairly common problems that can be prevented and treated.
People nearing menopause should discuss screening for bone health with a healthcare provider.
Consider discussing diet and exercise recommendations, too.
Staying active, watching your diet, and limiting alcohol intake can prevent several illnesses, including osteoporosis.
It’s good advice overall.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Osteoporosis.
2020;26(Suppl 1):1-46. doi:10.4158/GL-2020-0524SUPPL
MedlinePlus.Bone mineral density test.
Khosla S, Hofbauer LC.Osteoporosis treatment: recent developments and ongoing challenges.Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol.
2017;5(11):898-907. doi:10.1016/S2213-8587(17)30188-2
MedlinePlus.Exercise, lifestyle, and your bones.
