You’re hearing more and more about DEXA scans, often in the same breath as body fat percentage or muscle mass. But is that all there is to it?
Look a little closer and you’ll quickly realise that a DEXA scan offers much more than a snapshot of your body fat and muscle mass. It provides a comprehensive picture of how your body is built and functioning.
In this blog, we answer the most common questions about DEXA scans, so you know exactly what to expect.
DEXA stands for Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry. It’s a body composition assessment that uses low-dose X-rays to provide a detailed picture of your body.
The scan clearly distinguishes between bone and soft tissue, giving you a complete overview of your body composition. This includes body fat, lean mass, bone density, body fat distribution and even your resting metabolic rate.
That’s where one of the biggest misconceptions comes in: a DEXA scan isn’t just about body fat and muscle mass. It offers a much broader understanding of how your body is put together.
It’s no coincidence that DEXA is considered the gold standard for measuring body composition, whether you’re an athlete looking to optimise performance or simply someone who wants to gain a better understanding of their health.
Think of it as an inside look at your body, helping you understand what’s happening beneath the surface.
Your bones are the foundation of every movement you make, yet most of us rarely think about them.
A DEXA scan measures your bone density, an indicator of how strong and healthy your bones are. While bone health often becomes a focus later in life, it’s something worth paying attention to at any age.
There are several situations where bone density can play an important role:
Whether you’re active, training regularly or simply looking after your long-term health, understanding your bone health can help you take preventative action before problems arise.
One of the most overlooked yet valuable insights a DEXA scan can provide is your resting metabolic rate. This is the amount of energy your body uses at rest to carry out essential functions such as breathing, circulation and cell repair.
Why does this matter? Because it can help you:
Having a clearer picture of your body’s energy needs can be a useful starting point for building sustainable lifestyle habits.
The process itself is straightforward and completely non-invasive. You simply lie comfortably on a scanning table while the scanner moves slowly over your body. The assessment usually takes between 10 and 20 minutes, giving you the perfect excuse to relax for a moment.
There’s no physical effort required on your part.
For the most accurate results, we recommend avoiding food shortly before your appointment and wearing light, close-fitting clothing. If possible, the scan can also be performed in your underwear.
Yes, DEXA scans use a very low dose of radiation, significantly lower than many forms of medical imaging.
For healthy adults, occasional scans are considered safe. The only exception is pregnancy, in which case a DEXA scan is not recommended.
The scan itself is only the starting point. The real value lies in how you use the insights it provides.
You may discover differences in body composition, gain a better understanding of your energy requirements or identify areas where small changes could make a meaningful difference. The results can help you:
You can also analyse and compare muscle mass across different parts of the body. This can reveal asymmetries that may otherwise go unnoticed. In some cases, more subtle findings, such as a difference in leg length, can also become apparent.
These insights are valuable for anyone wanting to better understand their body and can be particularly useful for elite athletes or individuals going through rehabilitation.
Your body doesn’t change overnight, so there’s little value in measuring too frequently. For most people, a DEXA scan a few times a year is sufficient to track meaningful changes and trends over time.
The ideal frequency ultimately depends on your goals. If you’re preparing for an event such as a marathon or ultra-trail, or if you’re actively working on your body composition, more regular assessments may help you monitor your progress and make adjustments based on what your body needs.
A DEXA scan is about much more than a single number. It provides a broader understanding of how your body is built, how it functions and what it needs to perform at its best.
Ready to discover what your body can tell you?
Book your DEXA scan today and take the next step in your journey.