DEXA BODY COMPOSITION SCANS

Body Composition Analysis

• Fat Mass: Total body fat and its distribution
• Lean Mass: Muscle and other non-fat tissues
• Body Fat Percentage: The proportion of fat to total body weight

This detailed breakdown allows for precise tracking of body composition changes over time, which is crucial for:

• Weight Loss Monitoring: DEXA scans can show whether weight loss comes from fat or muscle, helping to ensure healthy and effective weight management.
• Nutritional Assessment: By revealing body composition, DEXA scans can guide nutritional strategies to support muscle growth or fat loss.
• Overall Health Evaluation: Body composition is a key indicator of overall health, often more informative than weight alone.

Secondary Benefits

Bone Health Assessment - DEXA scans remain the gold standard for measuring bone mineral density (BMD). They can:

• Provide information about bone health and mineral mass
• Predict fracture risk
• Monitor the effectiveness of bone health treatments

Visceral Fat Measurement - DEXA scans also measure visceral fat, the dangerous fat surrounding internal organs. This information is crucial for assessing cardiovascular and metabolic health risks.

DEXA scans, or dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, are powerful tools for assessing body composition, making them valuable for weight loss, nutrition, and overall health monitoring. DEXA is considered the gold standard in measuring body fat percentage and are proven to be much more precise than simple devices like scales and inbody machines. They also analyze bone health and visceral fat.

Our core philosophy is that we all should take a proactive approach to our health, rather than a reactive one, in pursuit of longevity. To do this you must first establish a baseline of your current health. The combination of a DEXA scan and a comprehensive blood panel is how this is done. From these you can assess:

• Bone mineral density*
• Body composition (fat mass, lean muscle mass, and body fat percentage)*
• Visceral fat levels*
• Hormone balance**
• Vitamin and mineral deficiencies**
• Kidney function**
• Thyroid function**
• Cardiovascular health markers**
• Liver function**
• Blood sugar levels and diabetes risk**
• Inflammation markers**
• Cholesterol and lipid profiles**

Only then can you respond to that information and build a plan of how to improve your health. As you embark on this plan you should periodically get an updated DEXA scan (and blood work) to track your progress and modify your plan as you go.

*Obtained from DEXA

**Obtained from blood work