DEXA (Body Composition Scan)
Body Composition refers primarily to the distribution of fat, muscle and bone, which are all important factors worth monitoring in order to track changes resulting from diet, exercise, medical conditions and/or medications.
Monitoring your training progress by weighing yourself periodically provides feedback on how heavy you are, but offers no insight into changes in your body composition, that is changes in muscle and fat.
What is DEXA?
DEXA is an advanced technology originally used to assess bone health. In recent years it has become recognised as the preferred method for body composition assessment in research studies where changes in body fat and/or muscle mass are important.
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, i.e. different levels of absorption due to their unique densities. It is these attenuating factors that allow the DEXA to calculate relative masses of each tissue type.
What is unique about DEXA technology is that it not only provides detailed reports on whole body composition, but also specific regions of the body like arms and legs, something no other technology can provide.
A whole body composition scan performed by DEXA provides feedback on a client’s body fat, muscle and bone mass. It also produces a detailed composition image to visualise subcutaneous and visceral fat within the body.
Do I require a referral from my doctor?
No – we can perform your body composition scan without a doctor’s referral.
When will I get the results?
Your results will be available shortly after your scan. We will provide you with a booklet which will explain your results in detail.
What will it cost?
Medicare does not pay a rebate for body composition scans. We will inform you of the cost of your scan when you call for an appointment.