Popular Science Debunks Rumors | Osteoporosis is an old age disease, does it only occur when you are old?

Rumors debunked: Osteoporosis is not exclusive to the elderly, the incidence rate is getting younger year by year

Osteoporosis is not exclusive to the elderly. Due to changes in the lifestyle of young people today, the incidence of osteoporosis is becoming younger and younger. Many young people in their 30s have already suffered from bone loss and even brittle fractures.

Many young people are addicted to smoking, like to drink several cups of coffee and carbonated drinks every day, or like high-salt and heavy-tasting foods such as skewers and barbecues, or they go on excessive diets for the sake of beauty, or they just stay at home, drive when going out, lack outdoor exercise, and have insufficient sunshine. These unhealthy lifestyles will lead to insufficient calcium intake, excessive calcium loss, and insufficient vitamin D, which in turn lead to osteoporosis.

In addition, some diseases such as thyroid disease, diabetes, intestinal disease, kidney disease, etc., as well as some drugs such as glucocorticoids and the use of anti-tumor drugs can also lead to the occurrence of secondary osteoporosis.

Author: Hong Wei, Chief Physician of Osteoporosis Clinic, Health Management Department, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University

Expert of Bone and Joint Rehabilitation Committee of Chinese Rehabilitation Medicine Association