Is Bone Loss Due to Weight Loss Regained?

Short-term weight loss is accompanied by bone loss in postmenopausal women. The longer-term impact of weight loss on bone in reduced overweight/obese women compared with women who regained their weight was examined in this study using a case-control design. Forty-two postmenopausal women were recruited two years after the start of a six-month weight loss trial. The 22 women who maintained their weight (weight loss maintainer [WL-M] group) were matched to a cohort of 20 women who regained their weight (weight loss regainer [WL-R] group).

Bone mineral density (BMD) at the femoral neck, trochanter, spine, radius, and total body, and soft-tissue composition were taken at baseline, 0.5 years, and two years. After two years, both groups lost BMD at the femoral neck and trochanter , whereas only the WL-M group reduced BMD at the 1/3 radius. There was greater BMD loss at the trochanter and 1/3 radius in the WL-M group compared with the WL-R group after two years.

The study concluded that, after two years, there is no recovery of bone loss induced by weight reduction, irrespective of weight regain. Weight regain does not result in recovery of bone, but it prevents greater loss at the trochanter and 1/3 radius compared with reduced-obese women. These data suggest that the period after weight loss may be an important point in time to prevent bone loss for those who maintain weight and those who regain weight.

This information is taken from a much longer article, Does Bone Loss Begin After Weight Loss Ends?

Lifestyle Risk Factors for Osteoporosis

What you can change!

These are modifiable risk factors which primarily arise because of

diet or lifestyle choices.

15.Do you regularly drink alcohol in excess of safe drinking

limits (more than 2 units a day)?

A unit of alcohol is equivalent to 10 ml (or approximately

8 grams) of pure ethanol, the active chemical ingredient

in alcoholic beverages. Excessive alcohol consumption

increases the risk of osteoporosis and fractures.

One unit of beer or cider (4% alcohol) is 250 ml/8.75 oz.

One unit of wine (12.5% alcohol) is 80 ml/2.80 oz.

One unit of spirits (40% alcohol) is 25 ml/0.88 oz.

16.Do you currently, or have you ever, smoked cigarettes?

17.Is your daily level of physical activity less than 30

minutes per day (housework, gardening, walking,

running etc.)?

18. Do you avoid, or are you allergic to milk or dairy

products, without taking any calcium supplements?

19.Do you spend less than 10 minutes per day outdoors

(with part of your body exposed to sunlight), without

taking vitamin D supplements?

Note: See previous blog post: Non-modifiable Risk Factors 

for Osteoporosis

Understanding Your Answers:

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions (1 -19) it does not

mean that you have osteoporosis. Positive answers simply

mean that you have clinically-proven risk factors which may

lead to osteoporosis and fractures.

Please show this risk test to your doctor who may encourage

you to take a FRAX® risk assessment (available at

www.shef.ac.uk/FRAX/) and/or have a bone mineral density

(BMD) test. In addition your doctor will advise on what

treatment, if any, is recommended.

https://iofbonehealth.org/sites/default/files/PDFs/2012-IOF_risk_test-english%5BWEB%5D_0.pdf

Non-modifiable Risk Factors for Osteoporosis

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. 

https://iofbonehealth.org/sites/default/files/PDFs/2012-IOF_risk_test-english%5BWEB%5D_0.pdf