What Is a DEXA Scan?
DEXA is an acronym for dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. The scanning device uses advanced technology to perform full-body scans through a quick and painless treatment process. During your scan, the device will create a map of your body to measure three critical health markers: bone density, body fat percentage, and muscle mass. All you have to do is lie down in a comfortable position inside the scanning part of the device. The treatment takes five minutes to scan your body to obtain your health measurements. You’ll get results as soon as your treatment is over and will learn more about the three critical health markers and your overall body composition.
What Does a DEXA Scan Measure?
A DEXA Scan provides a detailed and highly accurate assessment of your body composition. This advanced imaging technology goes beyond standard weight or BMI measurements to deliver clear data on three key health indicators: bone density, body fat, and muscle mass.Bone Density
The aging process, hormone deficiencies, inactivity, and a low calcium diet can all contribute to port bone density. The DEXA Scan can measure bone density, which is the amount of bone mineral in your bones, to determine the health of your bones and whether you are at risk of early osteoporosis. Poor bone density can make you more likely to experience fractures and breaks, as well as osteoporosis. Learning more about your bone density can help you take control of your health and take steps to improve it with lifestyle, hormone therapy, diet, and exercise.Body Fat
Body fat is the common term for adipose tissue. There are two primary types of body fat: subcutaneous fat and visceral fat. Visceral fat is the fat that surrounds the organs and, in excessive amounts, can be dangerous. Subcutaneous fat is the fat you can feel below your skin’s surface. Learning more about your body fat percentage can help you on a weight loss and weight management plan so that you can not just achieve a healthy weight and a healthy or ideal body fat percentage. The scan can also give you more information about the total amount of visceral fat in your body so that you can take steps to reduce it.Muscle Mass
Muscle mass is another aspect of body composition, and we can use this device to determine your muscle mass, which is the total amount of muscle in your body. Exercise, strength training, and a healthy lifestyle can increase lean muscle mass, which, when combined with a decrease in body fat, can help you reach your physique goals.What Are the Benefits of a DEXA Scan?
A DEXA Scan offers more than just numbers. It gives you a deeper understanding of your body so you can make informed, empowered decisions about your health. Whether you’re beginning a wellness journey or fine-tuning your current plan, this scan delivers accurate, reliable insights to guide your next steps.Accurate Body Composition Analysis
Unlike traditional scales or BMI calculators, the DEXA Scan provides a highly accurate analysis of your body fat percentage, lean muscle mass, and bone density. You’ll know exactly how your body is composed, not just how much it weighs.Early Detection of Bone Loss
The scan helps identify low bone density early, allowing for preventative care before it progresses into conditions like osteoporosis. With this insight, we can recommend lifestyle changes, hormone therapy, or supplements to protect your bone health.Targeted Weight Management
By measuring visceral fat and tracking changes in muscle mass, the scan gives you a more precise view of your health than weight alone. This helps us design weight management plans promoting weight loss and muscle gain for lasting, healthy transformation.Informed Hormone Therapy Planning
Poor bone density, increased fat storage, and muscle loss are often signs of hormone imbalances. A DEXA Scan provides essential data we can use to tailor your hormone therapy plan and monitor your progress over time.Motivation and Progress Tracking
Seeing measurable results over time—especially increases in lean muscle and decreases in visceral fat—can be a powerful motivator. With follow-up scans, you’ll clearly see the impact of your efforts, which can help you stay on track and celebrate your progress.A Personalized, Preventative Approach to Health
The DEXA Scan gives us the data needed to create customized, proactive health plans—rather than simply reacting to symptoms after they occur. You’ll gain insight into your current health and the tools to make lasting improvements.What To Expect Before, During, and After the Scan
Before the Scan
There’s no need to fast or make major changes before your appointment. We recommend wearing comfortable clothing free of metal zippers, snaps, or buttons, as these may interfere with the scan. Avoid taking calcium supplements at least 24 hours before your appointment for the most accurate bone density readings.During the Scan
The scan itself is quick, non-invasive, and completely painless. You’ll lie still on the padded scanning table while the device slowly moves over your body to collect data. The process takes about five to ten minutes. There’s no enclosed space or loud noise, making it a comfortable experience even for those who may feel anxious about scans or medical procedures.After the Scan
Once the scan is complete, you’ll receive your results immediately. We’ll go over your body composition data with you in detail, including bone density, fat distribution, and muscle mass.Your Results
The results of your DEXA Scan will tell you more than just the basics about bone density, body fat, and muscle mass. We can use your results to optimize your health and take proactive and preventative steps to address and prevent certain symptoms. Once you undergo this testing process, we can use the results to understand your baseline better. Then, we can develop a weight management or hormone therapy treatment plan based on your test results and primary health objectives. We can use your test results as a foundation to optimize your treatment plan down to the last detail.
Customizing Your Weight Management Plan
The right weight management plan shouldn’t just focus on weight loss, though that is an important aspect. Instead, it should focus on decreasing body fat and increasing lean muscle mass to promote body transformation.
We will perform an initial DEXA Scan to learn more about your body fat and muscle mass percentages, and as you lose weight, decrease body fat, and increase lean muscle mass, you can re-test to monitor your progress and see how far you’ve progressed and how far you need to go.
Customizing Your Hormone Therapy Plan
Some of the most common symptoms of a hormone imbalance or deficiency are poor bone density, a decrease in or inability to maintain lean muscle mass, and unexplained weight gain or the inability to lose weight.
The DEXA Scan and other testing processes, like blood tests, can give us a better understanding of how your hormones impact your body. Then we can customize your treatment plan with the correct dose of hormones and retest with the DEXA Scan to monitor your progress and track positive changes in your bone density, muscle mass, and body fat.
Frequently Asked Questions About the DEXA Scan
How Often Should You Get a DEXA Scan?
How often you schedule a DEXA Scan depends on your unique health goals, lifestyle, and any treatment plans you may be following. For most patients, a scan once per year is a beneficial way to track changes in body composition, monitor bone density, and maintain a comprehensive view of overall health.
If you’re on a weight management or hormone therapy plan, scheduling scans every six months allows us to monitor your progress, make data-driven adjustments, and ensure you’re headed in the right direction. For athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and bodybuilders who are actively training or modifying their nutrition and workout routines, quarterly scans can provide more detailed insights into changes in muscle mass, fat loss, and bone health.
Regardless of your goals, we’ll help you determine the ideal scan frequency based on your individual needs and how you want to use the results to support your health journey.
Who Is a Candidate for a DEXA Scan?
Anyone looking to optimize their health and wellness makes a good candidate for a DEXA Scan. The entire treatment process is quick and non-invasive but provides invaluable information about your overall health and wellness.
Patients who simply want a baseline about their health make good candidates, as do those who want to lose weight and improve their lifestyle. Additionally, bodybuilders, athletes, and fitness enthusiasts can all schedule a scan to optimize their training routines to improve performance and overall body composition.
Why Choose Meliora Integrative Medicine?
At Meliora Integrative Medicine, your care is approached with the understanding that you are a whole person, not just a set of symptoms. Founded by Dr. Rowena Chua, a board-certified neurologist and integrative medicine physician, the practice was established to offer a more comprehensive, patient-centered healthcare model.
After years in conventional medicine, Dr. Chua recognized the limitations of symptom-based treatment and sought a more effective and lasting approach. Her advanced fellowship training with Dr. Andrew Weil in Integrative Medicine, along with additional certifications in anti-aging and restorative medicine, allows her to offer evidence-based solutions that address the physical, emotional, hormonal, and neurological influences on your health.
When you choose Meliora Integrative Medicine, you are selecting a clinic dedicated to providing personalized, high-quality care with a focus on long-term wellness. Whether you are scheduling a DEXA Scan, exploring hormone therapy, or seeking support for overall health optimization, you will receive a tailored treatment plan rooted in medical science and a deep commitment to your well-being. Every aspect of your care is designed to identify root causes, support healing, and help you move toward a healthier, more balanced life.
Optimize Your Health with a DEXA Scan in Evanston, IL
Whatever your current health, body composition, or fitness and wellness goals, a DEXA Scan can help you learn more about your body so you can optimize your lifestyle to make positive changes that are both proactive and preventative. We can give you more information about this treatment and schedule your scan so you can better understand your body and take steps to optimize your health. Contact us today to book your DEXA Scan and begin your personalized path to better health.