Factors that increase the likelihood of developing osteoporosis and broken bones are called "risk factors." Many of these risk factors include:

• Being female
• Older age
• Family history of osteoporosis or broken bones
• Being small and thin
• Certain race/ethnicities such as Caucasian, Asian, or Hispanic/Latino although African Americans are also at risk
• History of broken bones
• Low sex hormones
• Low estrogen levels in women, including menopause
• Missing periods (amenorrhea)
• Low levels of testosterone and estrogen in men
• Diet
• Low calcium intake
• Low vitamin D intake
• Excessive intake of protein, sodium and caffeine
• Inactive lifestyle
• Smoking
• Alcohol abuse
• Certain medications such as steroid medications, some anticonvulsants and others
• Certain diseases and conditions such as anorexia nervosa, asthma and others
• Loss of height (which may indicate a spinal fracture)
  

Women can lose up to 20 percent of their bone mass in the five to seven years after menopause, making them more susceptible to osteoporosis.

View "Risk Factors You Can't Change":
Gender & Fracture Rates / Gender & Bone Mass / Estrogen Loss in Post-Menopausal Women / Estrogen & Spinal Bone

"Risk Factors You Can't Change", and other information about osteoporosis on this site, is as published by the National Osteoporosis Foundation