Factors you have marked that raise your risk for osteoporosis include:

• Your race. People who are Caucasian or Asian have a higher risk than people
  of other ethnic groups. Groups at lower risk include African Americans and Hispanics.

• Your BMI. BMI is a measurement of body fat. People who have an extremely low
  BMI
  are at greater risk for osteoporosis than people of normal or high BMI. Talk
  with your
  healthcare provider about ways to gain weight.

• Your history of anorexia nervosa or another eating disorder.

• Your history of heavy alcohol use. Talk with your healthcare provider about ways
  to cut back on your drinking.

• Your smoking history. Smoking reduces bone mass. Smoking may also interfere with
  estrogen levels in women and cause early menopause.

• Your sedentary lifestyle. A lack of physical activity makes your bones lose their
  strength and become thinner. Over time, thinner bones may break.

• Your diet. You get less than a glass of milk (or its equivalent) daily. People
  who don’t drink at least a glass of milk each day are at higher risk. You can
  lower your risk by adding more calcium-rich foods to your diet.

• Your family history of osteoporosis.

Your assessment shows that you currently have no risk factors for osteoporosis.

Your assessment shows that you currently have no risk factors for osteoporosis other
than age.

Following a bone-healthy lifestyle now can prevent or delay osteoporosis later in
life. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables and a
lifestyle that includes regular weight-bearing exercise are important to bone
health no matter what your age.

• Diet. Make sure you eat plenty of calcium-rich foods now. Most of the calcium that
  goes into building strong bones is added by the time you turn 17.
  Foods rich in calcium include low-fat milk, yogurt, cheese, calcium-fortified
  orange juice, soy milk, and tofu. Make sure you get enough vitamin D by
  spending about 15 minutes several days a week in the sun without sunscreen. Or
  you can take a supplement that has 400 IU of vitamin D.

• Exercise. Daily exercise must be part of your life. Bones become denser with the force
  of muscles pulling on them and with the impact you get through
  running or weightlifting. Recent research shows that exercise makes it easier
  for your body to use calcium. Other types of exercise good for keeping up
  bone strength include walking, hiking, climbing stairs, playing tennis, and dancing.

Following a bone-healthy lifestyle now can prevent or delay osteoporosis later in
life. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables and a lifestyle that includes regular weight-bearing
exercise are important to bone health no matter what your age.

• Diet. Make sure you eat plenty of calcium-rich foods now. Most of the calcium that
  went into building strong bones was added by the time you turned 17. You need
  plenty of calcium now to keep that strength. Foods rich in calcium include
  low-fat milk, yogurt, cheese, calcium-fortified orange juice, soy milk, and
  tofu. Make sure you get enough vitamin D by spending time in the sun. Aim for
  15
  minutes of gentle tanning. Don’t burn. Or, you can take a supplement that has
  400 to 800 IU of vitamin D.
• Exercise. Daily exercise must be a part of your life. Bones become denser with the
  force of muscles pulling on them and with the impact you get through running or weightlifting.
  Recent research shows that exercise makes it easier for your body to use calcium.
  Other types of exercise good for keeping up bone strength include walking, hiking,
  climbing stairs, playing tennis, and dancing.

You are currently nearing or have reached menopause. Menopause is a time in life when
your bones rapidly lose calcium. You can slow or delay osteoporosis as you get older.
You can do this with a lifestyle that keeps dense, healthy bone. A diet rich in fruits
and vegetables and a lifestyle that includes regular weight-bearing exercise are important
to bone health no matter what your age. So is good medical care.

• Diet. Make sure you eat plenty of calcium-rich foods now. Most of the calcium that
  went into building strong bones was added by the time you turned 17. You need
  plenty of calcium now to keep that strength. Foods rich in calcium include
  low-fat milk, yogurt, cheese, calcium-fortified orange juice, soy milk, and
  tofu. Make sure you get enough vitamin D by taking a daily supplement that has
  400 to 800 IU of that vitamin.
• Exercise. Daily exercise must be a part of your lifestyle. Bones become denser with
  the force of muscles pulling on them and with the impact you get through running or
  weightlifting. Recent research indicates that exercise makes it easier for your body
  to use calcium. Other types of exercise good for keeping up bone strength include
  walking, hiking, climbing stairs, playing tennis, and dancing.

• Medical care. Talk with your healthcare provider about other ways to lower your risk.
  If you are at risk, your provider may suggest one of several tests to find out your
  bone density.

You have reached menopause. Menopause is a time in life when your bones rapidly lose
calcium. You can slow or delay osteoporosis with a lifestyle that keeps dense, healthy
bone. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables and a lifestyle that includes regular weight-bearing
exercise are important to bone health no matter what your age. So is good medical
care.

• Diet. Make sure you eat plenty of calcium-rich foods. You need enough calcium now
  to
  keep up bone strength. Foods rich in calcium include low-fat milk, yogurt,
  cheese, calcium-fortified orange juice, soy milk, and tofu. Make sure you get
  enough vitamin D by taking a daily supplement that has 400 to 800 IU of that
  vitamin.
• Exercise. Daily exercise must be a part of your lifestyle. Bones become denser with
  the force of muscles pulling on them and with the impact you get through running or
  weightlifting. Recent research shows that exercise makes it easier for your body to
  use calcium. Other types of exercise good for keeping up bone strength include walking,
  hiking, climbing stairs, playing tennis, and dancing.

• Medical care. Talk with your healthcare provider about other ways to lower your risk.
  If you are at risk, your provider may suggest one of several tests to find out your
  bone density.

Men are at risk for osteoporosis in their later years. By this point, your body loses
more bone than it makes. If too much bone is lost, you may be at risk for fractures.
With advancing age, the quality and quantity of bone declines. You can lessen bone
loss by staying active and increasing the amount of calcium you get in your diet.
Calcium supplements and other osteoporosis treatments do have risks, so talk with
your healthcare provider if you have concerns.

• Diet. Make sure you eat plenty of calcium-rich foods. You need enough calcium now
  to
  keep up bone strength. Foods rich in calcium include low-fat milk, yogurt,
  cheese, calcium-fortified orange juice, soy milk, and tofu. Make sure you get
  enough vitamin D by taking a daily supplement that has 400 to 800 IU of that
  vitamin.
• Exercise. Exercise may be harder for you at your age. If you can, try to exercise.
  Many studies have shown that exercise helps older adults. Exercise helps you with
  your strength and your ability to get around. Check with your doctor before beginning
  an exercise program.

• Medical care. Talk with your healthcare provider about other ways to lower your risk.
  If you are at risk, your provider may suggest one of several tests to find out your
  bone density.

Because of your advanced age, you may already have some loss of bone strength. You
can slow further loss with a lifestyle that keeps dense, healthy bone. A diet rich
in fruits and vegetables and a lifestyle that includes regular weight-bearing exercise
are important to bone health. So is good medical care.

• Diet. Make sure you eat plenty of calcium-rich foods. You need enough calcium now
  to
  keep up bone strength. Foods rich in calcium include low-fat milk, yogurt,
  cheese, calcium-fortified orange juice, soy milk, and tofu. Make sure you get
  enough vitamin D by taking a daily supplement that has 400 to 800 IU of that
  vitamin.
• Exercise. Daily exercise must be a part of your lifestyle. Bones become denser with
  the force of muscles pulling on them and with the impact you get through running or
  weightlifting. Recent research indicates that exercise makes it easier for your body
  to use calcium. Other types of exercise good for maintaining bone strength include
  walking, hiking, climbing stairs, playing tennis, and dancing.

• Medical care. Talk with your healthcare provider about other ways to lower your risk.
  If you are at risk, your provider may suggest one of several tests to find out your
  bone density.

You already have some loss of bone strength. You can slow further loss with a lifestyle
that keeps dense, healthy bone. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables and a lifestyle
that includes regular weight-bearing exercise are important to bone health no matter
what your age. So is good medical care.

• Diet. Make sure you eat plenty of calcium-rich foods. You need enough calcium now
  to
  keep up bone strength. Foods rich in calcium include low-fat milk, yogurt,
  cheese, calcium-fortified orange juice, soy milk, and tofu. Make sure you get
  enough vitamin D by taking a daily supplement that has 400 to 800 IU of that
  vitamin.
• Exercise. Exercise may be harder for you at your age. If you can, try to exercise.
  Many studies have shown that exercise helps older adults. Exercise helps you with
  your strength and your ability to get around. Check with your doctor before beginning
  an exercise program.

• Medical care. Talk with your healthcare provider about other ways to lower your risk.
  If you are at risk, your provider may suggest one of several tests to find out your
  bone density.

Help from your healthcare provider

Your healthcare provider can help you understand your risk. He or she can also diagnose
and help treat osteoporosis if you develop it.

• Diagnosis. Several tests can diagnose osteoporosis. Your provider will figure out
  which test is best for you.

• Treatment. New medicines are available to stop or slow bone loss. Some medicines may
  actually increase bone strength. These medicines all depend on your getting
  enough calcium and vitamin D. That means you will be an important part of
  treatment. You will be responsible for your diet and exercise.