The effects of several risk factors determine the likelihood of getting osteoporosis. Low bone mass is a very important risk factor which you cannot see or feel. And the structure of your bone, called “microarchitecture“, is as important as the bone mass and also invisible.
The more bone mass and healthy bone structure you have at the age of 30, the less likely you are to develop osteoporosis. There are different factors which determine your peak bone mass: genetic, nutritional and environmental. Some of them you can influence, others not.

What is a risk factor?

The particular characteristics of your body and those behaviours that increase the likelihood of developing osteoporosis are called risk factors. If you have more than 1 or 2 risk factors, you are more at risk for osteoporosis compared to somebody, who is in the same age but has no risk factor. Certain people are more likely to develop diseases than others, and for most of all diseases the medicine knows risk factors.

Osteoporosis Risk Factors¹ :

• You are a woman.
• You are about forty or more.
• Your mother has suffered from osteoporosis.
• You are thin and have a small frame (BMI < 20).²
• You are a white person.
• You are postmenopausal – including early or surgical-induced menopause.
• You have suffered from anorexia nervosa or bulimia.
• You prefer a diet which is low in calcium and/or vitamin D.
• You take certain medications such as corticosteroids, thyroid hormones or some anticonvulsants.
• You don’t like and don’t practise sports.
• You are a smoker.
• You drink much alcohol.

Gender, age, frame, genetics, your medical history, and your menopausal status are the factors you cannot influence – but there are also a lot of lifestyle factors you can change.

What is BMI?

The Body Mass Index (BMI) compares a person's weight and height in relation to body fat and health risk. The BMI is defined as a person's body weight in kilograms divided by the square of his height.
BMI calculator