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Assessments & Quizzes

Are You at Risk for Osteoporosis? Quiz

Take this Osteoporosis Quiz to find out if you're at risk for osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis Quiz
1. Gender
Male or pre-menopause female
Female, no regular menstrual cycle
Female, menopausal
2. Race
African American
Hispanic/Latino
White, Asian, Native American
3. Age
Less than 50
50 to 69
70 or older
4. Body Build
Large frame, large body build, BMI greater than 25
Small frame, BMI 18.5-25
Very lean, BMI 18.5 (underweight or anorexic)
5. Fracture History
No family or personal history of broken bones from a fall
Family history of broken bones from a fall
Personal history of broken bones from a fall
6. Physical Activity
Vigorous, weight-bearing exercise 4+ times/week (e.g., jogging, tennis), and do weight training
Moderate activity such as walking, no weight or resistance training
Sedentary, little or no regular physical activity
7. Smoking
Never smoked
Ex-smoker
Current smoker
8. Alcohol
Never drink alcoholic beverages
Have up to 1-2 drinks of alcohol in a day
Often have 3 or more alcoholic drinks in a day
9. Calcium Intake
Eat 2 or more 8 oz. servings of milk or yogurt daily, OR an equivalent (e.g., calcium-fortified orange juice, V8-juice, soymilk, or tofu) OR take calcium supplement (500-600+ mg/day)
Eat only 1 serving of calcium-rich food daily and no calcium supplement
Seldom or never drink milk or other calcium-fortified foods and take no calcium supplement
10. Protein Source
Seldom or never eat animal protein foods; eat primarily a plant-based diet
Eat some animal protein foods daily (i.e., meat, poultry, or fish)
Get most of my protein from animal protein foods (i.e., meat, poultry, or fish)
11. Blood Pressure
Normal (less than 120/80)
Prehypertension (120/80 to 139/89)
High (140/90 or higher)
12. Medication (corticosteroids anticonvulsant)
Have never used these medications on a regular basis
Have used these medications for a few years
Have used these medications for many years

Check your answers and click the button when you are finished. Your answers will appear below.

Osteoporosis Risk Scoring and Prevention Guidelines
Results
  • Any question where you chose the first answer indicates "Low Risk" for that specific risk factor.
  • Any question where you chose the second answer indicates "Increased Risk."
  • Any question where you chose the third answer indicates "High Risk."
  • Areas that are improvement opportunities for you are marked with a .
Overall Risk is the combined number of second and third answers. This is the number of risk factors you have out of a possible 12. The greater the number of risks you have the higher your overall risk for osteoporosis. Review the descriptions and suggestions below for enhancing bone health.
Your overall risk:

Risk Factor Explanations
Gender
Women are more likely to develop osteoporosis than are men, and at an earlier age.
Race
Caucasians (whites) have the highest risk for osteoporosis. It is also common in Asians and Native Americans. Hispanics are at lower but significant risk, and African Americans have the lowest risk.
Age
The longer you live, the more likely it is that you will get osteoporosis. Everyone loses bone tissue as they age. Some have stronger bones to start with. Others lose it more slowly. See the section on preventive actions.
Body Build
Small-boned and very lean individuals (women less than 127 lbs.) are at higher risk. Maintaining a healthy weight is an important health principle, but being too lean (BMI 18.5) is not desirable.
Fracture History
If your parents had vertebral or other fractures due to osteoporosis, you might have inherited the same tendency. If you have fallen and broken a bone yourself, you are at increased risk for future problems.
Physical Activity
Active people generally have stronger bones than do inactive people. Bones grow stronger when they're stressed. Weight-bearing activities and weight lifting are best for increasing bone strength.
Smoking
Stop smoking! It is one positive way to build stronger bones and overall health.
Alcohol
A high intake of alcohol weakens bones and increases the risk of falls. Avoid or limit alcohol.
Dietary Calcium
If your calcium intake is low, your bone strength is also likely low. The recommended daily intake of calcium is 1,000 mg for adults.  If you are 70 or older, the recommended daily intake is 1,200 mg.

Along with calcium, you also need the right amount of vitamin D. Sunshine is needed for your body to make vitamin D. Be sure to get vitamin D in your diet or in a supplement if you are indoors most of the time. Adults need 800-1,000 IU daily if they live in the northern half of the United States.
Dietary Protein
Adequate protein is essential for all healthy tissue, including your bones. Research shows that a high intake of vegetable protein can protect your bones. It also slows the loss of calcium and reduces fracture rates. Good sources of vegetable proteins include beans, lentils, split peas, soybeans, garbanzos, tofu, nuts, whole grains, soymilk, and meat alternates.
Blood Pressure
When blood pressure is high (140/90 or higher) there is an increased loss of bone in elderly people. Lower your high blood pressure. It can reduce your risk of osteoporosis and heart problems.
Medications
Some medications increase bone loss. The most common are glucocorticoids (prednisone, excess thyroid hormone, anticonvulsant drugs, and some endocrine medications. Talk with your doctor about your medication use.

Preventive Actions for Bone Health
If you are at increased risk, be sure to take preventive actions soon. The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends these four important actions:
  1. Eat a balanced diet. Get adequate calcium and vitamin D. Good sources of calcium include low-fat milk and yogurt, low-fat cheese, dark leafy greens, calcium-enriched soymilk and tofu, calcium-enriched orange juice, and V8® vegetable juice. If needed, take a calcium and vitamin D supplement. Include vegetable proteins in your diet. Limit intake of salt or sodium.
     
  2. Do weight-bearing exercises regularly. The best activities are those that stress the bones. Jog, jump rope, climb stairs, dance, play tennis, and lift weights to build bone strength. Get guidance from your doctor or a fitness trainer about how to get started and avoid injury.
     
  3. Follow a healthy lifestyle. Smoking, alcohol, and caffeine all increase bone loss. Keep active, eat well, get adequate rest, and be positive.
     
  4. Get help from your doctor as needed. Your doctor can do a test to check the calcium levels in your bones. When needed, there are medications that can be taken to prevent excessive bone loss. (Drugs include biphosphonates such as Fosamax® and risedronate.) Drugs should be taken in addition to being active. In the past, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was commonly prescribed to reduce bone fractures. However, research shows that the health risk is greater than the benefit. A large clinical trial found that HRT increases heart disease, stroke, and pulmonary embolism. Additionally, some studies show that HRT might not be effective in reducing fractures in older women after all.

Sources:

1. Prevention: Who's at risk? National Osteoporosis Foundation.
2. NIH Consensus Panel. Osteoporosis prevention, diagnosis, and therapy. Journal of the American Medical Assocation; 285:785-95.
3. NHLBI stops trial of estrogen plus progestin due to increased breast cancer risk, lack of overall benefit. National Institutes of Health.

Written by: Don Hall, DrPH, CHES
Date Published: June 12,2001 Date Reviewed: September 03,2008
Disclaimer:

This information is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis of specific medical conditions. You should seek prompt professional medical attention if you have a particular concern about your health or specific symptoms. Wellsource, Inc. is not liable for any health consequences resulting from your use of this site.

 

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