J Korean Geriatr Soc.  1999 Dec;3(4):25-28.

Body Comosition, Obesity and Bone Mass

• Kyun IS

Abstract

Osteoporosis is defined as an involutional reduction of bone mass which leads to an increased susceptibility to fracture. Women are more prone to osteoporosis and related fractures than men. Reduced bone mass is one of the risk factors of fracture. Bone mineral density is determined by genetic and environmental factors such as nutrition, life style, health(hormonal) and mechanical loading factors. Body weight was the strongest predictor of bone mineral density in pre, peri, and post menopausal women, possibly by mechanism of mechanical loading to bone and increased hormone of mechanical loading to bone and increased hormone levels in obese women. For young women, lean body mass and muscle strength were major determinants of bone mass and for the elderly women, fat mass was more correlated with bone mass than lean body mass. Next to estrogen status, body weight has to be considered as an important risk factor, when evaluate a woman for osteoporosis.

MeSH Terms

Aged
Body Weight
Bone Density
Estrogens
Female
Humans
Life Style
Male
Muscle Strength
Obesity*
Osteoporosis
Risk Factors
Estrogens