About 50 percent of premenopausal women who have developed osteoporosis will have a secondary cause, ranging from medications and medical conditions to smoking and alcohol use.
Both men and women risk developing osteoporosis as they age, especially after 60. The following factors may increase our risk of developing early-onset osteoporosis:
● Entering menopause before the age of 45
● Having a bone fracture after a minor fall or bump
● Having a strong family history of osteoporosis (specifically, having a parent or sibling who has been diagnosed with the disease)
● Having a body mass index (BMI) or 19 of less (being very underweight). For those who are very underweight, estrogen levels are low for extended periods of time, and, combined with poor diet, can affect bone density and strength.
● Women who have periods that stop for six months to a year or more before the time of menopause, which can happen as a result of over-exercising or over-dieting, among other reasons
● People who have taken or are taking a steroid medicine, including prednisolone, for three months or more.
● If you are a smoker, you are at higher risk for early-onset osteoporosis.
● If you consume more than four drinks a day, you increase your odds of developing osteoporosis.