Body Composition Consultation
Don’t let a scale guess, when you can know.
Our culture confuses “thin” for healthy. Yet, simply following a scale - or even a BMI chart - can be dangerously misleading. Did you know that weight loss driven by muscle loss can lower the number on the scale and even place you in the “green” on a chart, but be detrimental to your health and actually make it more difficult to normalize your weight? So how do you know if your hard work is giving you the results you want?
One word - DEXA (ok technically it’s an acronym).
I have a few more questions - I want to keep reading.
Why DEXA?
The DEXA (that’s Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) scan is the gold standard in body composition measurement.
Who benefits from DEXA ?
Everybody (well almost). Traditionally a DEXA scan is used to measure bone density - like when screening for osteoporosis. Yet, a DEXA scan can actually measure the density of bone, fat, and muscle/organ tissue. So it doesn’t matter if you’re trying to nail down a specific body composition for the competitive arena, making sure you are loosing fat (not muscle)in your health journey, or monitoring for optimal fat levels and distribution for overall wellness - DEXA is for you!
Do not get a DEXA:
if you are pregnant
Postpone a DEXA if:
you recently had a barium image OR
had recent IV contrast material
DEXA table limits:
Weight - must be under 330lbs
What should I expect?
It’s simple. First, complete the form below. We will send you an agreement to get permission to order a DEXA for you at Lexington Diagnostic Center (LDC) and a PayPal request for the $150 fee. Once those are completed, you will receive a call from LDC to schedule your DEXA at your convenience - at no further cost to you!
On the day of your scan:
Wear comfy clothes with no metal (think gym wear).
Know your current weight. Not necessarily the day of the exam, but from a scale at your gym, healthcare office or home that you regularly use and can continue to monitor. The results of a DEXA are given in percentages - so using a consistent scale when you go for your scan(s) will help accurately monitor your improvement!
Hydrate well with water (shoot for 64 oz at least during the 24 hours prior to the exam unless you have health issues that prevent this*).
Do not take calcium 24 hours prior to the scan.
The exam takes about 10 minutes to complete, however arrive anticipating time to complete paperwork. The folks at LDC serve the community with affordable imaging and as such you will likely wait a few moments before your exam.
How will I get my results?
A DEXA results will be sent to Dr. Keller at Open Hands DPC. We will then email you a PDF version of the results for easy access. You will also have the opportunity to be set up for a patient portal through LDC.
Ready to get your results?
Still have a few questions?
Can’t my provider just order a DEXA?
Although a DEXA scan is a commonly ordered test for osteoporosis screening/monitoring in medical offices across the country, using these scans for body composition is not. In spite of being the gold standard, it is not widely covered by insurances. Furthermore, DEXA scans are typically quite expensive. It is only through the efforts of Open Hands DPC in conjunction with Lexington Diagnostic Center - with the goal to make quality medical care truly accessible and affordable - that we are able to offer this technology and information for your health at such a great cost. (To be fair, you are able to request an order from your provider, but typical cash pay cost in the surrounding Lexington area is well over $250.)
Does a DEXA have radiation?
Simple answer - yes…but. A DEXA scan does use a miniscule amount of radiation - to understand just how miniscule it takes a bit of explanation. The typical radiation exposure is 3mSv per year. That is 3,000 uSv. A DEXA scan exposes you to approximately 4uSv - that’s half the amount of simply moving about daily. Since there is radiation, however, it is recommended to avoid a DEXA while pregnant.
How often can I get a DEXA?
Due to the extremely low dose of radiation (the tech is not even required to wear leaded protection), you can safely get 3-4 scans per year. That means you can track your progress every 3-4 months!