Can you tell me the difference between osteoporosis and osteopenia?

Severity: Both osteopenia and osteoporosis indicate there is too little calcium in the bone. Osteoporosis is more severe, and suggests a higher risk for future fractures (broken bones), compared to osteopenia, or normal bone. Depending on other risk factors, medical treatment is usually recommended for osteoporosis, and sometimes advised for osteopenia.

T-scores different: Osteoporosis is defined by a t-score of less than -2.5 on a bone density test (dexa). T-score compares your bone density to that of a healthy 30 year old woman, and describes the number of standard deviations you are away from that score. It is a disease where you have an increased risk of fracture. Osteopenia referred to a t-score between -1.5 and -2.5, but its use has fallen out of favor.