What you cannot change!
These are risk factors that one is
born with or cannot alter. (Question 7
could arguably be placed under
lifestyle risk factors that can be changed.)
Nevertheless, it is important to be
aware of risk factors you cannot
change so that steps can be taken to
reduce loss of bone mineral.
1. Have either of your parents been
diagnosed with
osteoporosis or broken a bone after
a minor fall (a fall
from standing height or less)?
2.Did either of your parents have a
stooped back
(dowager’s hump)?
3.Are you 40 years old or older?
4.Have you ever broken a bone after
a minor fall, as an
adult?
5.Do you fall frequently (more than
once in the last year)
or do you have a fear of falling
because you are frail?
6.After the age of 40, have you lost
more than 3 cm in
height (just over 1 inch)?
7.Are you underweight (is your Body
Mass Index less than
19 kg/m2)?
Body mass index (BMI) is a measure
based on height and
weight that applies to both adult
men and women.
BMI Categories:
Underweight = below 18.5
Normal weight = 18.5 – 24.9
Overweight = 25 – 29.9
Obesity = 30 or greater
Imperial BMI Formula
Metric BMI Formula
BMI = weight
in pounds X 703/height in inches2
BMI = weight
in kilograms/height in meters2
8.Have you ever taken corticosteroid
tablets (cortisone,
prednisone, etc.) for more than 3
consecutive months
(corticosteroids are often
prescribed for conditions like
asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and
some inflammatory
diseases)?
9.Have you ever been diagnosed with
rheumatoid arthritis?
10.Have you been diagnosed with an
over-active thyroid, over-
active parathyroid glands, type 1
diabetes or a nutritional/
gastrointestinal disorder such as
Crohn’s or celiac disease?
For Women:
11.For women over 45: Did your
menopause occur before
the age of 45?
12.Have your periods ever stopped
for 12 consecutive
months or more (other than because
of pregnancy,
menopause or hysterectomy)?
13.Were your ovaries removed before
age 50, without you
taking Hormone Replacement Therapy?
For Men:
14.Have you ever suffered from
impotence, lack of libido or
other symptoms related to low
testosterone levels?
Note: See next blog post: Lifestyle Risk Factors.
