Body Composition/DEXA Scan

Body composition and levels of fat mass are important factors that can affect athletic performance and overall health. 

Weight alone is not a clear indicator of good health because it does not distinguish between pounds that come from body fat and those that come from lean body mass or muscle. Carrying too much fat is a condition called obesity, and puts a person at risk for many serious medical conditions including heart disease, diabetes and even certain forms of cancer. In fact, obesity contributes to at least half the chronic diseases in western society.

Body composition is a measurement of a person’s fat mass, lean mass and bone density. Simple measurements can be taken in the office to determine a person's lean body mass and is a good place to start for getting to know your body's composition.

DEXA (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry) is more advanced technology and is considered the gold standard in body composition measurement and gives added information about bone density. Bone density is also an important metric to track as it tends to decrease with age and can increase the risk of fractures and bone breaks.