Final answer:
Osteoporosis is more common in elderly women than men due to the loss of estrogen's anti-resorptive effect at menopause, resulting in rapid bone mass reduction and increasing the risk of osteoporosis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Osteoporosis is more common in elderly women than men primarily because the anti-resorptive effect of estrogen is lost at menopause.
At approximately 50 years of age, women go through menopause, experiencing a significant reduction in estrogen levels, which promotes osteoblastic activity and production of bone matrix. As a result, bone mass decreases more rapidly leading to an increased risk of osteoporosis. Men also experience bone mass reduction with age as testosterone levels decrease, yet it occurs less rapidly compared to the decline in women's estrogen levels post-menopause.
Prevention strategies against osteoporosis include a childhood diet with adequate calcium and vitamin D intake, along with regular weight-bearing exercise to build and maintain bone mass.