Osteoporosis: A Case Study

Osteoporosis defines “a disease characterized by low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue, leading to increased bone fragility and fracture risk” (Thompson, Manore, & Vaughan, 2014, p. 457). This disease, affecting more than 10 million people in the United States, causes the bones to lose their weight carrying capacity. Similarly to many other common diseases, Osteoporosis retains a variety of factors, both controllable and uncontrollable, that promote an increased risk for acquiring the disease. While factors such as gender, menopause, low body weight, and genetics place an individual at a higher risk, controllable factors can endure to decrease this risk. In the scenario, my friend commonly consumes carbonated beverages and calls herself a “picky eater,” two factors that dramatically increase the possibility for acquiring the diseases.

According to National Osteoporosis Foundation (n.d.), “Phosphorus in the form of phosphate is often added to processed foods and soft drinks…some studies suggest that too much phosphorus can reduce the amount of calcium that the body absorbs.” By reducing the amount of calcium absorbed, the bones diminish in strength, increasing their risk for developing Osteoporosis. Along with phosphorus, carbonated beverages contain caffeine, which “interferes with calcium absorption and causes a slight increase in the amount of calcium in the urine” (National Osteoporosis Foundation, n.d.). As evidenced, carbonated beverages are not only bad for an individuals waist line, but also the bones that support it. It is lifestyle factors, such as soda consumption, that lead to upsurge in Osteoporosis diagnosis, 80% of which belong to women. ADD