Being Underweight. Being underweight is a risk factor for osteoporosis in men as well as women. (Shortness, thinness, and narrow hips all increase the risk for fracture in people with low bone density.)
Lack of Sunlight. The photochemical effect of sunlight on the skin is a primary source for vitamin D. Bone formation peaks in the summer and bone breakdown increases in the winter. People who avoid sun exposure to prevent skin cancer may be at risk for vitamin D deficiency, particularly it they are elderly.
 | Click the icon to see an image of the sources of vitamin D. |
Smoking. Women who smoke, particularly after menopause, have a significantly greater chance of spine and hip fractures than those who don’t smoke. Men who smoke also have lower bone density.
Diabetes. Diabetes changes bone quality and density and increases the risk for osteoporosis, but the effects differ depending on type:
- Type 1 diabetes is associated with a slightly reduced bone density, putting patients at risk for osteoporosis and possibly fracture.
- Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, is associated with an increased bone density. In such cases, the bone quality itself may be impaired, since people with type 2 diabetes are still at higher risk for fractures.
Older patients with any diabetes type are at high risk for falling, which compounds the risk for fracture.
Risk Factors in Children and Adolescents
The maximum density that bones achieved during the growing years is a major factor in whether a person goes on to develop osteoporosis. Persons, usually women, who never develop peak bone mass in early life are at high risk for osteoporosis later on. Children at risk for low peak bone mass include children who are:
- Born prematurely
- Have anorexia nervosa (more common in girls)
- Young, highly competitive athletes
- Take oral corticosteroid drugs (inhaled steroids, which are common in asthma treatments, appear to pose a very low risk or none at all)
- Have certain medical conditions (cystic fibrosis, epilepsy, inflammatory bowel disease, and celiac disease)
- Have delayed puberty
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