Health Conditions

What are the risk factors?

Risk factors are characteristics that may increase the chance of developing a condition. Being female greatly increases the chances of having osteoporosis. For women, other osteoporosis risk factors include:

• Conditions (such as anorexia) or activities (such as exercising excessively) that result in the absence of menstrual cycles
• Menopause
• Never having had children

Men who have had their testicles removed surgically or who have lower than average levels of the male hormone, testosterone, may be at greater risk for having osteoporosis.

For both men and women, the risk of osteoporosis is also increased by:

• Advanced age
• Asian or white race
• Certain chronic medical conditions (such as asthma or other lung disorders, cancer, Cushing's syndrome, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, parathyroid conditions, or thyroid conditions)
• Cigarette smoking
• Corticosteroid medications (such as dexamethasone or prednisone)
• Excessive alcohol or caffeine consumption
• Family history of osteoporosis
• Low bone density
• Low-calcium diet, especially during childhood
• Physical inactivity
• Previously broken bones, especially after the age of 50
• Small body build
• Vitamin D deficiency

Other factors that may contribute to osteoporosis are not well defined. For example, studies by the U.S. National Institute of Child and Human Development (NICHD) have shown that irregular menstrual periods in young women may signal a hormonal shortage that could lead to osteoporosis. A separate study has found that individuals with major depression may be at higher risk for developing osteoporosis. Other research suggests that abnormally elevated stress hormone levels may also contribute to bone loss. Another recent study reported that women who needed bed rest to control problem pregnancies lost more bone density than other pregnant women (averages of 4.6% as compared to 1.5%).

Click on the link below to access a checklist of risks for osteoporosis.

• Risk Factor Checklist