Causes of Osteoporosis
Both men and women can have risk factors that make them more likely to develop osteoporosis. Some risk factors such as age, genetics, and hormonal changes you can’t change. However, there are things that you can do to reduce your risk including exercising regularly and not smoking or drinking excessive amounts of alcohol.
Osteoporosis has known risk factors, including age, genetics, and lifestyle choices, but there are steps you can take to protect your bones.
Common risk factors for osteoporosis are:
- Being a woman aged 50 years and over and being a man aged 65 years and over
- Low body weight (Body mass index less than 20 kg/m2)
- A personal history of previous fragility fractures
- A family history of fragility fracture and/or osteoporosis
- Menopause (especially if before 45 years)
- Smoking
- Drinking more than 2 standard alcoholic drinks daily
- A history of falls
- Some medications used to treat other conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), prostate cancer or breast cancer
- Some medical conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes or dementia
- Undiagnosed conditions that affect absorption of nutrients, such as coeliac disease, or a history of eating disorders