We investigated the relationships between calcaneal stiffness and the lifestyle of 53 men and 139 women over 60 years of age living in a local community (Nara). Their calcaneal stiffness was measured with an ultrasonic densitometer to calculate the agematched stiffness (AM value). Daily eating habits, physical exercises, housework and past jobs, hobbies and social activities, and health promoting behaviors were evaluated by direct interview. The results were as follows; 1) Significant and positive correlation coefficients were observed between the AM value and three parameters in men : social activity, hobby time and the housework (washing). Significant and positive correlation coefficients were observed between the AM value and nine items in women : body weight, BMI, fat body weight, lean body mass, total calcium intake, total housework time, total kitchen work time, frequency of meat intake and frequency of soybean curd intake. 2) All the single items surveyed were grouped into nine categories according to their relevancy and the mean values were normalized. All the subjects were divided into two groups : high AM value group (over 100) and low AM value group (under 100). The nine categories of the two groups were then compared by the t-Test. The intake of milk and other dairy products, frequencies of other food intake and medical history (past and present) were significantly higher for women in the high AM value group than for those in the low AM value group. No significant difference was found in men. 3) Four factors were extracted by factor analysis and compared for their factor points between the low and high AM value groups. No significant difference was observed in men. However, a calcium-related factor had a significantly higher point for women in the high AM value group. A few relationships specific to gender were recognized between calcaneal stiffness and lifestyle : social activities in men, and nutrition and housework in women. Our study shows that it is important for the prevention of osteoporosis in the elderly to take countermeasures based on the gender differences. (334 words)