DEXA BODY COMPOSITION SCAN

3D MAMMOGRAPHY

DEXA Body Composition Scan

Gain a deeper understanding of your health with a DEXA Body Composition Scan — a quick, non-invasive assessment that provides an accurate analysis of your body composition using low-dose X-ray technology. The scan takes 20 minutes and requires no injections, medication, or special preparation.

What Does a DEXA Body Composition Scan Measure?

A DEXA scan provides detailed insights into:

  • Body Fat Percentage
    Understand your overall and regional body fat distribution.
  • Lean Muscle Mass
    Measure muscle mass and identify areas for improvement.
  • Bone Mass
    Assess bone health and monitor changes over time.

Why Choose a DEXA Body Composition Scan?

Unlike traditional measurements such as weight or BMI, a DEXA scan offers a comprehensive picture of your body composition, helping you make informed decisions about your health and wellness.

Ideal For

  • Weight management and lifestyle programmes
  • Fitness and performance tracking
  • Monitoring muscle gain and fat loss
  • Preventive health assessments
  • Individuals looking to optimise their overall wellbeing

Supporting Your Health Journey

Whether you are starting a wellness programme, tracking fitness goals, or focusing on preventive healthcare, a DEXA Body Composition Scan provides the accurate data needed to measure progress and support healthier lifestyle choices.

Important Information

Please note that DEXA Body Composition Scans are not covered by medical aid schemes and are offered on a private-pay basis. Payment is required on the day of the examination.

Patients will receive a printed or electronic (PDF) summary of their body composition measurements and biometric data. This service does not include a radiologist’s report or medical interpretation.

To gain the greatest benefit from the results, we encourage patients to review their findings with their healthcare provider, dietician, fitness professional, or wellness coach. These professionals can assist with interpreting the results and provide appropriate lifestyle recommendations.

Know your body. Track your progress. Invest in your health with Lake, Smit and Partners Inc.

  • Highly accurate body composition analysis
  • Quick and comfortable procedure
  • Valuable for weight management, fitness tracking, preventive health screening, and monitoring lifestyle changes
  • Provides objective measurements that go beyond weight and BMI

Your DEXA Body Composition Scan provides a comprehensive report with detailed measurements, including:

Body Fat Analysis

  • Total Body Fat Percentage
    This measures the percentage of your total body weight that is made up of fat. It provides a more accurate assessment of body composition than BMI and helps determine whether your body fat levels fall within a healthy range.
  • Total Fat Mass (kg)
    This is the total amount of fat in your body expressed in kilograms. Monitoring fat mass over time can help track the effectiveness of weight management, nutrition, and exercise programmes.
  • Regional Fat Distribution
    The scan shows how fat is distributed throughout different areas of your body, including the arms, legs, trunk, and abdominal region. This information can identify areas where fat is concentrated and provide a clearer understanding of overall health risks.
  • Visceral Fat Estimation
    Visceral fat is the fat stored deep within the abdomen around vital organs such as the liver, pancreas, and intestines. Higher levels of visceral fat are associated with an increased risk of conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.

Lean Muscle Analysis

  • Total Lean Muscle Mass
    This measures the amount of muscle, organs, and other non-fat tissues in your body. Maintaining healthy lean mass is important for strength, mobility, metabolism, and overall health.
  • Muscle Distribution by Body Region
    The scan provides a detailed breakdown of muscle mass in the arms, legs, and trunk. This can be particularly useful for athletes, individuals recovering from injury, or anyone looking to monitor muscle development.
  • Identification of Muscle Imbalances
    DEXA can compare muscle mass between the left and right sides of the body. Identifying significant differences may help guide training programmes, rehabilitation, or injury prevention strategies.

Bone Health Assessment

  • Total Bone Mass
    This reflects the amount of bone tissue present throughout your body. Healthy bone mass is essential for strength, mobility, and reducing the risk of fractures.
  • Bone Mineral Content (BMC)
    Bone mineral content measures the amount of minerals, primarily calcium and phosphorus, contained within the bones. It is an important indicator of bone strength and skeletal integrity.
  • Insight into Overall Skeletal Health
    The scan provides information about your overall bone status, helping to establish a baseline for future monitoring and supporting proactive bone health management.

  • Total Body Weight
    The scan records your total body weight and separates it into its key components: fat mass, lean mass, and bone mass.
  • Fat Mass vs Lean Mass Breakdown
    This analysis shows how much of your weight is made up of fat compared to muscle and other lean tissues, providing a clearer picture of health and fitness than weight alone.
  • Comparison to Healthy Reference Ranges
    Your body fat percentage and other measurements can be compared to established reference ranges based on age and gender, helping you understand where you currently stand.
  • Future Progress Tracking
    Repeat DEXA scans allow you to accurately monitor changes in body fat, muscle mass, and bone health over time, making it an excellent tool for tracking progress towards fitness, wellness, and lifestyle goals.

  • Wear comfortable clothing without metal zips, buttons, or underwire.
  • Remove jewellery, belts, and other metal objects before the examination.
  • Avoid strenuous exercise for at least two hours before your scan.
  • For accurate results, fasting 3 hours prior to scanning is recommended.
  • You should not have had a Barium Study, Radio-Isotope injection, intravenous contrast media or dye within 5 days prior to your DEXA scan
  • Inform the radiographer/ receptionist:
    • If you are pregnant or suspect you may be pregnant.
    • Of previous body composition scans. Previous results can help track your progress and changes in body composition over time. However, it is important to note that comparisons can only be made between scans performed on the same scanner to ensure accuracy and consistency.

During the Scan

  • You will lie comfortably while the bone density scanner scans slowly over the whole body.
  • It is important to remain still during the scan to ensure accurate results.

After the Scan

  • You will receive a printed or electronic (PDF) summary of your body composition measurements and biometric data.
  • You can resume your normal daily activities immediately.
  • Using the same scanner, follow-up DEXA scans can be performed to monitor changes in body fat, lean muscle mass, and bone health over time. This enables accurate comparison of results, allowing you to track your progress.

  1. Is a DEXA Body Composition Scan safe?
    Yes. A DEXA Body Composition Scan uses a very low dose of X-rays and is considered a safe, non-invasive procedure. The radiation exposure is minimal and significantly lower than many other medical imaging examinations.

  2. Is the scan painful?
    No. The scan is completely painless, non-invasive and requires no injections or medication.

  3. Will my medical aid cover the scan?
    No. DEXA Body Composition Scans are currently offered on a private-pay basis and are not covered by medical aid schemes.

  4. Will I receive my results immediately?
    Yes. You will receive a printed or electronic (PDF) summary of your body composition measurements after your examination.

  5. Will a radiologist interpret my results?
    No. This examination includes a body composition report generated from the scan. It does not include a radiologist’s interpretation or medical report. We recommend discussing your results with your doctor, dietitian, fitness professional or wellness coach.

  6. Can I have a DEXA Body Composition Scan if I am pregnant?
    No. Because the examination uses X-rays, it is not recommended during pregnancy. Please inform us if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant.

  7. How is a DEXA Body Composition Scan different from BMI?
    BMI estimates body size using height and weight only. A DEXA Body Composition Scan provides a far more detailed assessment by measuring body fat, lean muscle mass and bone mass, giving a much clearer picture of your overall health.

  8. How often should I have a DEXA Body Composition Scan?For most individuals, a scan every 3 to 6 months is appropriate when monitoring changes in body composition through diet, exercise or medical treatment. Your healthcare provider may recommend a different interval depending on your individual health goals.

A & T Medical Centre
22 Hopelands Road, Overport
 

Tel: 031 521 0379

Email: lifestyle@lakesmit.co.za

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