Osteoporosis is caused by a lack of bone strength or bone density. As you age, your bones get thinner naturally. But some things can make you more likely to have the severe bone thinning of osteoporosis. These things are called risk factors. Some risk factors you can change. Others you can't change.

Risk factors you can't change include:

• Age - Your risk for osteoporosis goes up as you get older. In women, after menopause, the body makes less estrogen. Estrogen protects the body from bone loss.
• Family history - Osteoporosis tends to run in families.
• Race/Ethnicity - People of European and Asian background are more likely to develop
• osteoporosis.

Risk factors you can change include:

• Smoking
• Not getting enough exercise
• Drinking too much alcohol
• Getting enough calcium, vitamin D, and phosphorus in the foods and beverages you consume.

Additional Resources:

http://www.nof.org/prevention/risk.htm
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FY/FY46900.pdf