Risk factors you cannot change: - Gender. Your chances of developing osteoporosis are greater if you are a woman. Women have less bone tissue and lose bone faster than men because of the changes that happen with menopause.
- Age. The older you are, the greater your risk of osteoporosis. Your bones become thinner and weaker as you age.
- Body size. Small, thin-boned women are at greater risk.
- Ethnicity. Caucasian and Asian women are at highest risk. African American and Hispanic women have a lower but significant risk.
- Family history. Fracture risk may be due, in part, to heredity. People whose parents have a history of fractures also seem to have reduced bone mass and may be at risk for fractures.
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