Lifestyle Factors Associated with Osteoporosis Risk
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/JEHS.2026.93.72513Keywords
osteoporosis, Bone mineral density, lifestyle, physical activity, calcium, vitamin D, fracture riskAbstract
Background: Osteoporosis is the most prevalent metabolic bone disease, affecting roughly 200 million women worldwide and accounting for about 9 million osteoporotic fractures annually. Age, sex, and genetics shape baseline risk, but modifiable lifestyle behaviors explain a large share of the variance in bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture incidence.
Aim: This narrative review synthesizes current evidence on how physical activity, diet, tobacco, alcohol, caffeine, body weight, sleep, and stress influence osteoporosis risk, with clinical implications.
Material and methods: PubMed, Google Scholar, the Journal of Education, Health and Sport, Quality in Sport, and the Cochrane Library were searched for peer-reviewed publications from 1995 to 2026. Search terms combined "osteoporosis," "BMD," and "fracture" with each lifestyle factor of interest. Inclusion was restricted to original research, meta-analyses, systematic reviews, and authoritative guidelines.
Results: High-intensity resistance and impact training increased lumbar spine BMD by 2.9% and femoral neck BMD by 0.3% in osteopenic postmenopausal women. Calcium plus vitamin D supplementation reduced hip fracture risk by 30%. Vegan diets were associated with 43% higher total-fracture risk and a 2.3-fold higher hip-fracture risk. Current smoking nearly doubled lifetime hip-fracture risk. Heavy alcohol intake raised hip-fracture risk by 59%; light intake was neutral. Short sleep (≤5 h) and chronic psychological stress were associated with lower BMD across multiple skeletal sites.
Conclusions: Lifestyle behaviors are the principal modifiable determinants of osteoporosis risk. Integrated programs combining weight-bearing exercise, adequate calcium and vitamin D, and avoidance of tobacco and excess alcohol offer the greatest fracture-prevention potential.
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