Final answer:
Osteoporosis risk factors are older age, female sex, European or Asian ancestry, family history, and small physical stature. Modifiable factors include smoking, alcohol use, lack of exercise, and poor diet. Prevention involves eliminating controllable risks and maintaining a healthy lifestyle with adequate nutrition and exercise.
Step-by-step explanation:
Osteoporosis Risk Factors
Risk factors for osteoporosis include older age, being of female sex (XX chromosome), having European or Asian ancestry, family history of osteoporosis, and physical factors such as short stature and small bones. Other modifiable risk factors include smoking, alcohol consumption, lack of exercise, vitamin D deficiency, poor nutrition, and the consumption of soft drinks. It is advised to eliminate those risk factors that can be controlled through changes in behavior. This can be achieved by quitting smoking, reducing or eliminating alcohol consumption, ensuring a nutritious diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, and undertaking weight-bearing exercise.
Since women lose bone mass more quickly than men starting at about 50 years of age, largely due to menopause and the associated decrease in estrogen production, they are at a higher risk for osteoporosis. Men can also develop the condition, particularly if they have a family history of the disease. Prevention should include a childhood diet adequate in calcium and vitamin D and a lifestyle that includes weight-bearing exercise to build bone mass before the age of 30, thereby reducing the risk of developing osteoporosis later in life.