Content intended for healthcare professionals. By continuing, you confirm you are a HCP.
Your bone health
Osteoporosis risk factors
Some factors that contribute to osteoporosis risk are beyond your influence. Others, you have real control over.
Risk factors you can't control
Some factors that contribute to the risk of osteoporosis are beyond your influence, including:
- Gender: Women are more susceptible to developing osteoporosis than men, especially after menopause
- Age: As you age, your risk of osteoporosis increases
- Ethnicity: Individuals of white or Asian descent face the highest risk
- Family history: Having a parent or sibling with osteoporosis raises your risk, particularly if they experienced a hip fracture
- Body frame size: People with smaller body frames, regardless of gender, tend to have a higher risk due to potentially lower bone mass accumulated over time
Risk factors you can control
Several risk factors for osteoporosis can be managed:
- Dietary habits: Diets lacking calcium, vitamin D, and protein — or are high in sodium — can increase the risk of osteoporosis
- Physical activity: A sedentary lifestyle can reduce bone density, strength, muscle support, and balance, increasing the risk of osteoporosis and related fractures
- Alcohol consumption: Excessive drinking can disrupt bone remodeling, decreasing bone strength over time
- Smoking: Nicotine hampers bone growth, and smoking can lower estrogen levels in women, further impeding bone development
Focus on what you can change
You can't change your age, gender, or family history, but diet, exercise, alcohol, and smoking are all genuinely within your control. Small, sustained changes here can meaningfully lower your risk over time.
In this guide
Understanding osteoporosis
Symptoms
Risk factors
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Why early detection matters
Understanding TBS®
Find a TBS centre
TBS® is available in 90+ countries. Find a centre and ask if it can be added to your DXA scan.
Find a centreThis content is for educational purposes for healthcare professionals and does not constitute medical advice or clinical guidance. It is not a substitute for the independent judgement of a qualified physician or specialist. Diagnostic and treatment decisions must be individualised to each patient, based on their complete clinical picture, locally applicable guidelines, and the most current evidence, which are determinations only a licensed healthcare provider is positioned to make.
TBS® is available at imaging centres and clinics in 90+ countries. Ask your doctor whether TBS® can be added to your bone density scan.