Are You at Risk for Serious Bone Loss?*

Osteoporosis is called a "silent enemy" because you may not find out you have it until significant bone loss has occurred. Use this test to evaluate your risk level.

Risk Factors That Can Be Controlled

1. Do you smoke cigarettes?     No = 0 risk points  Yes = 4 risk points 2. Do you drink alcoholic beverages?     No = 0 risk points  1 - 2 ounces a day = 2 risk points     3 or more ounces a day = 4 risk points 3. Do you avoid milk or other dairy products?     No = 0 risk points  Yes = 3 risk points 4. Do you exercise?     Regularly = 0 risk points  Little or none = 4 risk points 5. Are you a female who exercises a great deal, with irregular or no menstruation?     No = 0 risk points  Yes = 4 risk points 6. Is your diet high in animal protein, such as red meats?     No = 0 risk points  Yes = 2 risk points 7. Do you add salt to foods at the table?     No = 0 risk points  Yes = 3 risk points 8. Are you a vegetarian, or have a diet heavily weighted toward vegetables?     No = 0 risk points  Yes = 2 risk points 9. Do you have an eating disorder, or consume too little nutritious food?     No = 0 risk points  Yes = 4 risk points 10. Do you have high amounts of fiber in your diet?     No = 0 risk points  Yes = 2 risk points 11. Do you have 3 or more cups of coffee a day - or an equivalent amount of caffeine from other sources, such as cola-type beverages?     No = 0 risk points  Yes = 2 risk points

Risk Factors That Cannot Be Controlled

1. Do you have a family history of osteoporosis or other bone disease?     No = 0 risk points  Yes = 4 risk points 2. Are you White, Northern European or Asian?     No = 0 risk points  Yes = 3 risk points 3. Do you have a fair complexion?     No = 0 risk points  Yes = 2 risk points 4. Do you have a small-boned frame?     No = 0 risk points  Yes = 4 risk points 5. Are you over 40 years of age?     No = 0 risk points  Yes = 2 risk points 6. Are you over 70 years of age?     No = 0 risk points  Yes = 4 risk points 7. Do you have a low percentage of body fat (less than 15% of total body weight) - or a lean build?     No = 0 risk points  Yes = 4 risk points 8. Have you breast fed at least one child?     No = 0 risk points  Yes = 1 risk points 9. Are you allergic to milk or other dairy products?     No = 0 risk points  Yes = 3 risk points 10. Have you not had children?     No = 0 risk points  Yes = 2 risk points 11. Did your menopause occur around age 45?     No = 0 risk points  Yes = 3 risk points

Other Risk Factors

1. Have you ever used anticonvulsants (medications designed to prevent convulsions or fits?     No = 0 risk points  Yes = 2 risk points 2. Have you had hyperparathyroidism (an excessive secretion of the parathyroid glands, which causes loss of calcium from the bones, formation of cysts in the bones, and kidney stones)?     No = 0 risk points  Yes = 3 risk points 3. Have you ever used steroid (cortisone) drugs?     No = 0 risk points  Yes = 4 risk points 4. Have you had biliary cirrhosis (an inflammatory disease of the bile system connecting the liver and intestines)?     No = 0 risk points  Yes = 3 risk points 5. Have you had an overactive thyroid gland with symptoms such as fast pulse and heart rate, loss of weight, and "hyped up" bodily metabolism?     No = 0 risk points  Yes = 4 risk points 6. Have you had stomach or small-bowel disease?     No = 0 risk points  Yes = 4 risk points Calculate>>

*SOURCE: Preventing Osteoporosis, by Kenneth H. Cooper, M.D., M.P.H. - Bantam Books