What causes osteoporosis?

    Researchedby:
    Brady Holmer, Marina Shkayeva

    Fact-checked

    by:

    Morgan Pfiffner
    Last Updated: October 25, 2023

    Anyone can develop osteoporosis, but it is more common in females of older age. Risk factors for getting osteoporosis include old age, low body weight, family history, smoking, certain medications (corticosteroids, anticonvulsants, etc.), and low bone mass (osteopenia).[1] Certain medical conditions can also increase the risk of developing osteoporosis, either due to effects of the disease itself, the medications used to treat the condition, or both. This includes epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, COPD, adrenal insufficiency, Cushing’s syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple myeloma, sickle cell disease, HIV, and many others.[2]