Osteoporosis can develop at any age but most cases are reported in older adults, especially in women. Age and gender, however, are not the only risk factors for the condition. Lifestyle choices, certain diseases and even medications can lead to osteoporosis. The following factors can increase your risk of developing osteoporosis:
Age: Bones typically become thinner and weaker with age. After age 30, the rate at which your bone tissue dissolves and is absorbed by the body slowly increases, while the rate of bone building decreases. So overall you lose a small amount of bone each year after age 30.
Sex: Women are more likely to develop osteoporosis than men, because women have less bone tissue, and lose bone faster after menopause.
Getting little or no exercise: Not getting enough physical activity or too much bed rest following an injury, illness or surgery weakens bones over time.
Body size: Petite and thin people are at greater risk of this condition because they have less bone to lose than people with larger frames and more body weight.
Nutrition: Having a diet that's low in calcium and vitamin D increases osteoporosis risk.
Medical problems: Some health conditions such as hyperthyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, early menopause or diabetes put you at greater risk for osteoporosis.
Unhealthy habits: Research indicates that smoking and consuming too much alcohol can both lead to bone loss and an increased risk of fracture. Heavy alcohol use is more than 2 drinks a day for men and more than 1 drink a day for women.
Medications: Using certain drugs on a long-term basis can lead to bone loss. These medicines include corticosteroids such as prednisone; heparin, a blood thinner; selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a class of antidepressants; and aromatase inhibitors, used to treat breast cancer.
Having a family history of osteoporosis: If your mother, father or a sibling has been diagnosed with osteoporosis or has experienced broken bones from a minor injury, you are more likely to develop osteoporosis.
Ethnicity: White and Asian women have the highest risk of osteoporosis, while African American and Hispanic women have a lower risk.
Did you know? Bone mass decreases after 30 years of age, and bone loss occurs more rapidly in women after menopause.