Osteoporosis

According to American Bone Health, 4.2 percent of Black Americans have osteoporosis and 29.7 percent have low bone mass. Black Americans do maintain a lower risk of breaking a bone in their lifetime compared to White Americans, but fracture risk is increasing among Black adults because of other chronic conditions. Black women are also less likely to be screened than white women.

Osteoporosis occurs when bone health is weakened through losing too much bone or making too little bone. Patients with osteoporosis will have larger spaces between bone cells and lower bone mass or densities (National Osteoporosis Foundation). Around 54 million Americans have osteoporosis or low bone mass (National Osteoporosis Foundation). Around 50% of women and 25% of men 50+ will break a bone because of osteoporosis in their lifetimes (National Osteoporosis Foundation).