DEXA Body Composition Scans

At NUVO Health, we offer two types of DEXA (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) scans:

• Bone Density Scans: to assess bone strength and osteoporosis risk
• Body Composition Scans: to measure body fat, lean muscle mass and fat distribution

DEXA scans are safe, painless, non-invasive, and use a very low dose of radiation. Most scans take approximately 10 to 30 minutes.

DEXA Body Composition Scan

A DEXA Body Composition Scan is a non-invasive assessment that measures the proportion and distribution of fat, muscle, bone and water in different areas of the body, including the arms, legs, and trunk.

The results are highly accurate and reproducible, allows clinicians to scientifically and objectively assess the quality of weight loss rather than weight alone.

Who may benefit from a Body Composition Scan?

Body composition analysis may be useful for:

• Monitoring muscle mass and fat distribution during weight-loss programs, especially if commencing GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist medications
• Assessing sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss)
• Patients undertaking preventative health or longevity programs, monitoring risk factors associated with obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic health
• Tracking lean muscle gain and fat loss for fitness and athletic performance

Patients undergoing body composition monitoring may choose to repeat scans periodically throughout the year to objectively track their progress over time.

Is it safe?

Body composition scans use an extremely low dose of radiation (approximately 1–5 µSv), which is considered negligible and significantly lower than a standard chest X-ray or even the radiation exposure from a short airplane flight.

What to expect during your appointment

We recommend wearing comfortable clothing without metal zippers or buttons where possible. To ensure accuracy, avoid scheduling your DEXA scan within one week of a barium X-ray study, a nuclear medicine scan or CT scans with contrast. You should also avoid high-dose calcium supplements for 24 hours before your scan.

DEXA scans should also be avoided during pregnancy. Please inform our staff if you are pregnant or may be pregnant prior to your appointment.

During the scan, you will lie comfortably on an open scanning table while the DEXA scanner passes over your body. The procedure is painless and typically takes 10–30 minutes.

Once your scan is complete:

• Bone density scan reports will be sent to your referring GP for interpretation and discussion
• Body composition reports can be provided directly to you

For both scan types, we recommend a follow-up consultation with your GP to review your results, discuss their significance for your long-term health, and develop an appropriate management plan if required.

If you would like to arrange a DEXA scan, please book online or call our Longueville clinic today.