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By the age of 80, it is estimated that 40% of the muscle mass present at age 20 is lost. In a study with 198 subjects, 25% of the patients in a geriatric ward were considered to be sarcopenic.

In 2010, it was estimated that more than 99 million adults aged 50 years and older had severely decreased bone density mass in the United States.

Based on the overall 10.3% prevalence of osteoporosis, it was estimated that in 2010, 10.2 million older adults (65 years and older) had osteoporosis in the United States.

The overall prevalence of low bone mass was 43.9%, from which it was estimated that 43.4 million older adults had osteopenia, from mild to severe levels.

It is projected that by 2020, the number of adults over age 50 with low bone mass, including osteoporosis, will grow from approximately 54 million to 64.4 million. By 2030, that number will further increase to 71.2 million (a 29% increase from 2010).
It is anticipated that the number of fractures will grow proportionally.

Loss of muscle mass and function (sarcopenia) and loss of bone mass (osteopenia or osteoporosis) with advancing age, when untreated, represent a major public health problem for the elderly population and may result in loss of independence in later life. Untreated age-related sarcopenia and osteopenia/osteoporosis increase the risk for falls and fractures, making older individuals more susceptible to the development of mobility limitations or severe disabilities that ultimately affect their capacity for independence.

Exercise, and specifically weight training (and walking), are beneficial for increasing both bone density and strength in middle-aged and older individuals. It has been shown that the density and strength of the bone is being increased by changes in the micro-architecture of the bone.