What is a DEXA Body Composition scan?
20/09/2017
I've seen people getting a DEXA Scan on Channel Ten's The Biggest Loser. Why should I get a DEXA Body Composition scan?
If you are serious about reaching your health or weight-loss goals, it's best to have an accurate baseline with which to assess your progress.
DEXA Body Composition scans, also known as a Fat Scan, or Body Scan along with advice from your personal trainer, dietitian or exercise physiologist can provide you with the information you need to help you achieve your goals.
- DEXA is accurate to the gram, and is the quickest and easiest way to monitor the progress of your weight-loss or training regime.
- DEXA delivers a three component scan, which includes fat, lean muscle and bone density.
- Only a DEXA Body Composition scan can provide regional data, including arms, legs and trunk.
- DEXA Body Composition scans enable reproducible results, meaning your progress can be tracked with the highest accuracy possible.
- Individualized advice for fat loss and building lean tissue can be determined from the scan data.
So, what exactly is DEXA?
Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) is the gold standard in Body Composition and Bone Density. A DEXA scan is a quick, and non-invasive way to accurately and reliably measure bone mineral density, total body fat and total muscle mass.
What's involved in having a scan?
To have a scan you simply lie flat on the padded table while the arm of the machine passes over your body. The scan only takes 10 minutes. You remain clothed during the scan.
How does DEXA work?
DEXA works by passing two (dual) very low dose x-ray beams at differing energy levels through the tissues of the body. Fat, muscle and bone each have different attenuating factors (different levels of absorption due to their unique densities), and it is these factors which allow the DEXA to calculate relative masses of each tissue type in your body.
