OBJECTIVETo screen the risk factors for osteopenia in youths.

METHODSNinety-nine subjects aged 15 to 43 years with primary osteopenia(-2.5

RESULTSBinary logistic regression identified 5 factors that showed significantly correlations to osteopenia, namely inactivity, prolonged use of computers, imbalanced diet, staying up late at night, and alcohol drinking (P=0.000 for all the factors with yield ratios all >80%). Joint clicking and skeletal pain were the most common symptoms, and most of the patients had complaints of fatigue, insomnia and gastric discomforts.

CONCLUSIONSInactivity, prolonged use of computers, imbalanced diet, staying up late at night, and alcohol drinking are the risk factors for osteopenia in youths. Most of the patients have a sub-health status, indicating the necessity of relevant interventions to prevent the occurrence of osteoporosis.