Osteoporosis in Men: What Seniors in Oklahoma Should Know

According to a time trend analysis published in January 2025 on the National Library of Medicine, an estimated 10.2 million American adults aged 50 and older have osteoporosis. Another 43.4 million have low bone mass (osteopenia), a precursor to osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis in men appears to be less common than in women. However, many older males go undiagnosed.

The good news is that osteoporosis (and the fractures that could result from it) are preventable and manageable.

To that end, the caring team at Morada Southridge, our beautiful assisted living community in Oklahoma City, the capital city of Oklahoma, created this guide. Read on to discover insights into healthy aging and osteoporosis in older male adults, including prevalence, risk factors, and preventive measures.

What Is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a disorder in which bones become weak and brittle. It occurs when bone density and mass decrease or when bone strength and structure change.

In healthy people without osteoporosis, their bones, which consist of living tissue, constantly renew and replace themselves with new bone. Unfortunately, in people with osteoporosis, the ability of the bones to heal diminishes considerably. Their old bone tissue breaks down faster than the formation and replacement of new bone.

Such changes can heighten a person's risk of experiencing fractures or broken bones.

Fractures that result from osteoporosis can happen to any bone. However, they most commonly occur in the following:

Hip bones
Spinal vertebrae
Wrist bones

Osteoporosis often doesn't manifest symptoms, making it a "silent" disease. Many people even go unaware they have it until they suffer a fracture.

How Common Is Osteoporosis in Men?

The Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation wrote that in the U.S., approximately two million men have osteoporosis and that about 12 million more are at risk. It also noted that men older than 50 are more likely to experience a fracture than develop prostate cancer. Furthermore, up to a quarter of men within this age range will get a fracture due to osteoporosis.

How Is Osteoporosis Prevented or Managed?

Although several risk factors, such as age and genetics, are unmodifiable, osteoporosis is still preventable and manageable.

Healthy lifestyle choices and changes can significantly reduce risk (including for older men) and disease progression. For example, smoking tobacco is a modifiable risk, so cutting back or, better yet, kicking this unhealthy habit, can help. Excessive alcohol consumption is another risk factor, so reducing intake can also help.

Here are other bone loss prevention tips and strategies to manage or minimize one's risk of developing osteoporosis.

Focusing on a Balanced and Healthy Diet

A balanced diet is critical to overall senior men's wellness because it:

Helps manage or prevent chronic conditions
Plays a crucial role in mobility
Assists in achieving optimal bone health for elderly men

A healthy, balanced, bone-friendly diet must provide adequate vitamin D and calcium.

Vitamin D is critical to bone health because it helps the body absorb and use calcium from food. It also aids in maintaining healthy phosphate levels. Phosphate is a mineral that works with calcium to form hydroxyapatite, the primary component of bones and teeth.

The best source of vitamin D is the sun; as Healthline explains, the recommended sun exposure is midday, between four and 15 minutes from February to November. Foods with this vitamin are:

Wild-caught mackerel, tuna, and salmon
Mushrooms
Alfalfa sprouts
Vitamin D-fortified products, such as cereals, milk, and dairy products

On the other hand, calcium serves as the primary building block of bone and dental tissues. It gives them rigidity, strength, and structure. Some of the best sources are:

Dairy products and calcium-fortified products
Collard green
Kale
Broccoli
Dried figs
Oranges

At Morada Southridge, meal preparation is one of the many high-quality services we provide our Oklahoma City senior living residents. Our team helps ensure they get healthy, well-balanced, yet nutritious, senior-friendly meals.

Performing Weight-Bearing Exercises Regularly

Weight-bearing exercises can help with osteoporosis by "stressing" the bones through weight and impact, making them stronger and more resistant.

Weight-bearing exercises that are perfect for older men (and women!) are:

Brisk walking
Dancing
Climbing stairs
Running
Sports like badminton, pickleball, and tennis

At Morada Southridge, our senior living community in Oklahoma City, OK, we strive to make fun, engaging, healthy activities and events more accessible to our older residents. To do this, we carefully plan and offer them a full calendar of events and exercises that help augment bone health, mind-stimulating games, and educational courses.

Prioritizing Fall Prevention

Whether you're currently managing osteoporosis or wish to lower your risk of developing this bone condition, please remember that a pillar of bone health is to prevent falls. Falls are a leading cause of injury among older adults, and falling once doubles a person's risk of experiencing another, according to the U.S. CDC.

Here are some of the best ways to prevent and minimize falls:

Yoga
Tai-chi
Balance classes
Simple exercises like walking backward, performing lunges, and standing on one's foot for a few minutes each time
Minimizing slip, trip, and fall hazards at home

Morada Southridge aims to keep our older residents on their feet for as long as possible so they can have more energy and time to do things they love. For this reason, we ensure that their cozy and comfortable apartment homes are clean, well-kept, and well-maintained with our weekly housekeeping services. Each senior apartment in our beautiful, pet-friendly community also features well-illuminated entryways.

Don't Let Osteoporosis Get in Your Way of Aging Gracefully

Osteoporosis in men may not be as common in women, but that doesn't mean older males are in the clear. For this reason, males, especially senior men, should do everything possible to reduce their risks, such as through a well-balanced diet, vitamin D exposure, exercise, and fall prevention.

Morada Southridge is your premier choice if you or an older loved one is considering transitioning to a senior living community that promotes overall health and wellness. From our well-appointed apartment homes to our thoughtfully prepared meals, engaging activity calendar, and safety-promoting amenities, we offer all these and more in our warm and loving assisted living enclave in Oklahoma City, OK.

Call us today to schedule a tour!