EXERCISE AND REPRODUCTIVE FACTORS AS PREDICTORS OF BONE-DENSITY AMONGOSTEOPOROTIC WOMEN IN MEXICO-CITY

We examined the association between physical activity and reproductive factors with bone density among 313 Mexican women, aged 26-83 years. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured with a HOLOGIC QRD 1000 w, DXA densitometer at the lumbar spine and femoral region. We explored the relation between BMD and parity, age, body mass index (BMI), type of m enopause, and level of exercise. Multiple regression models examining determinants of bone density at the lumbar and femoral regions showed that increasing age and lack of exercise were statistically significan t predictors of bone demineralization. The number of pregnancies also had a deletereous effect on bone density, especially for lumbar spine, as well as EMI <20 kg/m(2). Our results suggest that physical activit y, parity, and BMI are important determinants of bone density in this population.