Risk factors for developing osteoporosis
Risk factors for osteoporosis include:
- Being a woman. Women who have started menstruating at a late age or who have gone through menopause at an early age are more likely to have osteoporosis.
- Being white (Caucasian).
- Having a family history of osteoporosis.
- Taking corticosteroids, such as prednisone, for a long period of time (months to years).
- Having anorexia nervosa.
- Having a disease such as sprue that affect the absorption of nutrients from food.
- Being bedridden for a long period of time.
- Smoking, drinking more than 2 alcoholic drinks a day, or drinking too much caffeine (found in coffee, tea, and some types of soda pop).
- Having hyperthyroidism.
- Being extremely thin.
- Not eating enough calcium.
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS | Last Updated: October 4, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine Carla J. Herman, MD, MPH - Internal Medicine | |
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