Services Offered

Dexa Scan

DEXA Body Composition and Bone Density Testing

The DEXA Scan is a highly accurate body composition and bone density test measuring body fat, muscle mass and bone health. It can help improve physical fitness, manage weight, and diagnose bone-related risks, like osteoporosis. Unlike most other scans offered in Connecticut, HyperFit's DEXA scan is more advanced and comprehensive and measures visceral fat (the fat around your intestines and liver). This fat is associated with serious health risks, including heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers. Monitoring visceral fat is crucial for identifying potential health issues early.

DEXA Scans are $99 for first-time patients at our Milford, CT practice, then $150/scan after that.


Schedule Your DEXA Scan

Why Take a DEXA Scan

Standard weight tests mislead

Studies show body fat is a more significant indicator of all-cause mortality than weight tests like a scale or BMI. BMI — your weight to height ratio — doesn't distinguish between fat and muscle, and can misclassify people as overweight when not. Measuring body composition — the percentage of fat, bone and muscle in your body — is a better diagnostic. A DEXA Scan is the most accurate, scientifically validated body comp test available. It only has a 2% margin of error, significantly outperforming other ways of measuring body composition.

Redefine analyzing your health

Despite what fitness ads say, being "skinny" doesn't mean having a healthy body nor does being "overweight" mean you're unhealthy. The DEXA Scan allows us to identify what's healthy for your unique body composition, including:

  • Track how much fat you are losing or gaining compared to total muscle mass
  • Provide readings of visceral fat (dangerous fat that can accumulate around organs)
  • Identify increased risks of chronic disease

How DEXA Scans Work

Quick. Easy. Safe.

DEXA (or DXA) stands for dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. During the scan you lie on your back on the DEXA table. The machine scans your whole body within 5-15 minutes using a thin, invisible beam of low-energy x-rays. There is no tunnel (like MRI or CT scans) and technicians can stay in the room (unlike standard X-Rays), indicating how safe the machine is.

A Full Image of Your Health

After scanning your body the DEXA machine compiles a report with key findings, including:

  • Total Body Fat Percentage (%BF)
  • Fat Mass Index (FMI)
  • Visceral Adipose Tissue (VAT)
  • Android to Gynoid Ratio
  • Fat Free Mass Index (FFMI)
  • Skeletal Muscle Mass (SMM)
  • Bone Density (Z- and T-Score)

Improve Your Fitness

By knowing your body fat and lean tissue percentages, you can make more informed dieting, exercise and other lifestyle changes to elevate your fitness levels, improve your health and reduce the risk of disease. A DEXA Scan establishes a baseline, tracks progress, and helps recommend ideal caloric intakes to achieve fat loss or muscle gains more effectively.

Keep Bones Strong

A DEXA Scan shows how dense your bones are, and assesses any risks of osteopenia or osteoporosis. The Z-score it provides compares your bone density to a person similar in age and body size. The T-score compares your bone density to that of a 30-year-old, the age bones are strongest. Both scores help us identify how best to maintain your bone strength as you age.

DEXA Scan FAQs

What to know

Are DEXA Scans safe?

Yes! A DEXA Scans is very safe, and poses no significant health risk. When people hear that the DEXA machine use a low-energy x-ray they sometimes get concerned over the amount of radiation being emitted into their body. DEXA equipment typically emits 1-4 uSv, sometimes less. For comparison, a dental x-ray emits 5 uSv into our bodies, each day the planet naturally emits 10 uSv, a transatlantic flight emits 80 uSv, and eating 10 bananas (yes, bananas are slightly radioactive) emits 1 uSv. So a DEXA Scan is just a little more "radioactive" than eating a bunch of bananas. We do however recommend against pregnant or potentially pregnant women from taking a DEXA scan.

Do I Need a DEXA Scan?

Adults, athletes, fitness enthusiasts, the elderly, or any individuals looking to find out more about their body composition can benefit from a DEXA Scan.

We all lose bone mass as we get older. So it is also recommended starting at age 65 to get a DEXA Scan. But even before then, if you have a family history of bone disease, have injured your bones, or are experiencing certain illnesses, no matter what your age, it can be a good idea to get tested using a DEXA machine.

How Do I Schedule a DEXA Scan?

You can schedule your DEXA Scan at any time online. Just open up our online scheduler . Pick your preferred time to take a DEXA Scan at our practice in Milford, Connecticut, and you're all set!

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