title: Frequency of osteopenia and associated risk factors among young female students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To find out the frequency of osteopenia and associated risk factors among young female students.
  
  
  METHODS
  This observational, cross-sectional study was conducted at the Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, from August 2011 to January 2012, and comprised young female students. Convenient sampling method was used. Age, residence, sun exposure, menstrual status, level of physical activity, exercise, vitamin D, calcium intake were variables of interest. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan was used to measure bone mineral density on the lumbar spine, hip, femur and distal forearm. SPSS 16 was used for data analysis..
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 100(76.9%) students were included in this study. The age range was 20-30 years. Overall,70(70%)participants were osteopenic, while 30(30%) were normal. Age<25 years, living with less exposure to sun, less physical activity and diet low in calcium and vitamin D were common risk factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The frequency of osteopenia was significantly high among young female students.
authors.affiliation: Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS), Karachi.
authors.forename: Rabail Rani
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Soomro
authors.affiliation: Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS), Karachi.
authors.forename: Syed Imran
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS), Karachi.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D015519:Bone Density; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Frequency, Bone mineral density, Osteopenia, Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.