If I had to choose a category to classify this post, it would be in health care. As you know my diet has been deficient for over a year due to my food intolerances, although I'm better, there are still many foods that I can not eat. In this process I lost a lot of fat and muscle mass, but my biggest concern is the bones and, as don't eat many calcium-rich foods, I'm afraid of getting fragile bones, I recently did a densitometry, but I still don't know the result. But if I had knowledge of this company DEXA scan, I swear to you that I would have gone to Dexa. The DEXA scan gives accurate information on fat mass, muscles, and bone density. With all the weight I lost in this intolerance process, let's just say knowing all these parameters would be the icing on the cake. But exactly what am I talking about?

What is a DEXA Scan?

The DEXA Scan is the clinical gold standard for measuring fat, muscle, and bone density. Find nearby locations and pricing, to get you an on-the-spot assessment of your body composition.
A DEXA Scan (Dual-Enerxy X-ray Absorptiometry), uses two different types of waves that are reflected by lean muscle, and bone differently. The scanner uses this information to create a detailed map of your body and measure your body composition.

DEXA scan how it works?

A DEXA scan, or dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, uses x ray technology to determine the distribution of lean muscle, fat, water and bone in your body. Unlike any other body composition measuring tool, DEXA results are highly accurate and highly reproducible.

It works by passing two safe and very low dose x-ray beams at differing energy levels through the tissues of the body. The amount of radiation that passes through the tissue is measured by a detector. The computer then determines how much of your tissue is muscle fat water or bone and where it’s all stored.

The total scan takes about 7 minutes, where you’ll be lying flat on the scanning bed. The DEXA is the ‘gold standard’ body composition testing. It has the greatest precision and shorter scan times.

DEXA is more accurate and more reproducible than any other body composition measurement

Step 1

Find a location near you

Step 2

Schedule an appointment

Step 3

Prepare! Do not take calcium supplements for at least 24 hours before the exam and avoid wearing clothes with metal zippers or hooks.

Step 4

Lay flat on the scanning bed for roughly 7 minutes

Step 5

Directly after you’re scanned, you’ll get your results and will walk through them with a professional.

Receive and understand your results on the same day of your scan. with healthcare professional.

What type of results should I expect?

Total body bone mineral density
Total body muscle mass
Total body fat mass
Total body bone mass
Total body fat percentage
Muscle and fat mass in the trum
Muscle and fat mass in your right and left arm
Muscle and fat mass in your right and left leg
Central abdominal fat measurement

How a DEXA Body Composition Scan Works

DEXA Scan gives you the most precise information about you body fat, muscle, and bone composition, and lets you track changes in body composition over time. Fitness enthusiasts, athletes, and dieter often use body composition scans to get a baseline of where they are now, and to objectively measure their progress.

Results show you:

Overall body fat, lean tissue (muscle), bone weight and percentages

Breakdowns for both legs, arms and your torso

DEXA scan image showing where your body fat and muscle is distributed

Visceral fat (the dangerous fat around organs)

The primary advantage of DEXA Scan over using a fat estimate device (bioimpedance scales, calipers, tape measure), or displacement estimate device (hydrostatic dunk tank, Bod Pod) is that the DEXA Scan is actually measuring your body fat and giving you a precise measurements.

DEXA Scan also gives you precise measurements of fat and muscle distributed around your body. See muscle asymmetry that you need to correct to reduce injuries. And track potentially dangerous visceral fat around your vital organs.
You get a better sense of where you are now. And you can track the improvement over time.
For example athletes often have more dense bones and more lean muscle, and so estimation techniques tend to incorrectly overstate their bodyfat.

Each package is designed with your unique health and fitness goals in mind.

Weight Loss

DEXA helps you monitor your weight loss progress. An initial baseline scan lets you see exactly where you are when you start, and then track how much body fat they are actually losing, and how much muscle you are gaining.
Just using scales often hides progress. Dieters combining diet with an exercise program often mistakenly think they are getting minimal results, because they are adding dense muscle at the same time they are losing fat. And dieters on crash diets, are often getting misleading results because they are losing lean muscle and along with fat.

Body Builders

Body builders on a bulk or a cut, want information on how much muscle they are actually gaining during a bulk, or how much muscle they are losing on a cut.
Getting a DEXA scan lets you see how effective a bulk or cut is in adding muscle. Learn what works for your body, and help dial-in your routine and your macros.
Preparing for competition, you can get a more precise measure of your body fat percentage – so you can more precisely time your cut.

Athletes & Fitness Enthusiasts

As well as using a DEXA Scan for basic body fat measurement, athletes often use the scan to pick up muscle asymmetries between their left and right sides. Muscle imbalances asymmetries are often caused when our sport causes us to favor one side, or when we use improper form that makes our dominant side do more work. These asymmetries throw weight distribution off, cause muscle miscoordination, and create unnatural stresses that lead to injury.

Determine the effectiveness of your fitness habits.

General Health

Getting a baseline measurement of fat, muscle, and bone lets you see where you are and track changes over time. We often lose muscle and bone mass as we age, particularly in the core, and legs. This puts us at greater risk of injury. Having a baseline measurement and tracking changes over time helps identify concerning trends and lets you take preventative action early.

How a DEXA Bone Density Scan Work

The DEXA scanner uses two X-ray beams; one high energy and one low energy. It will measure the X-rays that pass through the bone from each beam. This will vary depending on how thick your bone is. Based on the difference between the two beams, the machine determines your bone density.

A Bone Densitometry test is used to measure how strong your bones are. It is commonly used to identify osteoporosis, a condition that causes a decrease in the density of bones resulting in fragility, and to determine a person’s risk for developing fractures. If you’re at risk, talk to your doctor about scheduling a bone density scan.
DEXA is today’s established standard for measuring bone mineral density (BMD). If your doctor agrees you’re eligible, your insurance should cover the cost of the scan. Your health care provider will most likely recommend a Central-Machine test, which will scan over your spine, hips or your total body.
For 10 to 20 minutes, you’ll lie still on a table as a wand scans over your body. It’s painless, noninvasive and the radiation is low. You’ll need to schedule a follow up appointment with your doctor after you’ve been scanned to discuss your results.

When to Scan

Are female and older than 65

Are female, menopausal or post menopausal and:
- Under the age of 45
- Under the age of 65 with other risk factors
- Not taking estrogen
- Over 5 feet 7 inches tall
- Weigh less than 125 pounds

Are male and older than 70

Are male and have clinical conditions associated with bone loss

Have broken a bone over the age of 50

Have lost more than an inch of height

Have unexplained back pain

Have personal or family history of:
- Hip Fracture
- Smoking
- Osteoporosis

Use medications that are known to cause bone loss (including corticosteroids such as Prednisone, various anti-seizure medications such as Dilantin and certain barbiturates or high-dose thyroid replacement drugs)

Have Type I Diabetes, Liver Disease or Kidney Disease

High bone turnover (shows up in the form of excessive collagen in urine samples)

Thyroid condition, such as Hyperthyroidism.

Parathyroid condition, such as Hyperparathyroidism.

Experienced a fracture after only mild trauma.

X-ray evidence of vertebral fracture or other signs of osteoporosis

Are a heavy drinker

Risk and Prevention

Women are 4 times more likely to develop osteoporosis due to their lighter, thinner bones and longer life spans. Statistically being asian or caucasian also puts you at higher risk. Or, if you have a narrow build.
Bone density peaks at age 30 and then decreases over time. This is why it’s important to do strength training, weight bearing exercise and to include enough calcium and vitamin D in your diet.

DEXA is today’s established standard for measuring bone mineral density (BMD) and is most often performed on the spine, hips or forearm.

Step 1

Talk to your doctor about your eligibility for Bone Density Testing

Step 2

Your doctor will recommend a nearby Dexa Scan provider that is covered by your health insurance.

Step 3

Schedule an appointment for the scan and an additional appointment with your doctor to discuss the results.

Step 4

Prepare! Do not take calcium supplements for at least 24 hours before the exam and avoid wearing clothes with metal zippers or hooks.

Step 5

Lay flat on the scanning bed for roughly 10 to 20 minutes

Step 6

Discuss your results with your health care provider.

Most Bone Densitometry will focus on your hips and spine. You'll be asked to use a foam block to capture your hip in different positions. — Most Bone Densitometry will focus on your hips and spine. You’ll be asked to use a foam block to capture your hip in different positions.

What type of results should I expect?

T score: This number shows your Bone Mineral Density compared to young adults of the same gender in peak health.

-1 and above: this is considered a normal score
between -1 and -2.5: this is classified as osteopenia (low bone mass)
below -2.5: this is classified as osteoporosis (extremely low bone mass)

Z score: This number shows your Bone Mineral Density compared to other people in your age group of the same size and gender. If this score is more than 2 standard deviations above or below average, it may indicate a need for further medical tests.

Where you can find DEXA scan: Click image