You notice no pain or change as the bone becomes thinner, although the risk of breaking a bone increases as the bone becomes less dense. Having a family history of osteoporosis, being thin, being white or Asian, getting limited physical activity, smoking, and drinking excessive amounts of alcohol also increase the risk for low bone density and, eventually, osteoporosis.
![ostopenia calculation tool ostopenia calculation tool](https://www.natap.org/2008/images/031708/factot-3.gif)
Some people who have low bone density may not have bone loss. The thicker your bones are at about age 30, the longer it takes to develop low bone density or osteoporosis. All people begin losing bone mass after they reach peak bone density at about 30 years of age. As this occurs, the bones lose minerals, heaviness (mass), and structure, making them weaker and increasing their risk of breaking. What causes low bone density?īones naturally become thinner as people grow older because, beginning in middle age, existing bone cells are reabsorbed by the body faster than new bone is made. Having low bone density means there is a greater risk that, as time passes, you may develop bone density that is very low compared to normal, known as osteoporosis. If your bone density is low compared to normal peak density, you are said to have low bone density. Bone density is a measurement of how dense and strong the bones are.
![ostopenia calculation tool ostopenia calculation tool](https://www.aging-us.com/img?size=hero&img=vmFJfarchkyMAtwWn_f1.png)
Low bone density (sometimes called osteopenia) refers to bone density that is lower than the normal peak density but not low enough to be classified as osteoporosis.