WHY MEASURE BODY COMPOSITION?

When considering health and disease, body weight is not nearly as important as the composition of that weight. Body weight reflects the combined weight of all the body's tissues, while body composition measures the relative proportions of fat and lean mass in the body. Lean mass refers to bones, tissues, organs, and muscle.

 

Visceral fat is associated with a substantially increased risk of metabolic syndrome, heart disease, diabetes, physical disability and early death.

 

Why use DXA at midlife? 

• Monitoring total body composition at midlife is vital. Tracking normal aging tissue changes allows to adjust nutrition and exercise before small shifts lead to chronic disease.

• Understanding Midlife Shifts

  • Hormonal changes: Declining estrogen and testosterone levels alter metabolism and direct fat storage toward the abdomen.

  • Muscle loss (Sarcopenia): Lean mass naturally drops by roughly 1% per year, lowering your resting metabolic rate.

  • Bone density decline: Particularly in women, skeletal integrity weakens faster, raising the long-term risk of osteoporosis and fractures.

  • Visceral fat accumulation: Fat surrounding internal organs climbs even if the scale weight stays identical, increasing risks for heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

  • Prevent rapid age-related loss of muscle mass and strength that leads to decreased functional capacity and independence.

  • Diagnose sarcopenic Obesity: high body fat combined with low muscle mass, which raises the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

  • Fall and fracture prevention: Changes in body shape and loss of leg strength directly affect balance, mobility and quality of life.

 

Why Use DXA if on GLP-1/GIP therapy

• Track Fat Loss: Verify that weight loss comes from fat stores rather than muscle and bone. 

• Prevent Muscle Loss: Catch early signs of sarcopenia (muscle wasting) caused by rapid calorie reduction.

• Adjust Nutrition: Guide protein intake and resistance training adjustments based on lean mass changes. 

​

Why Use DXA after age 65

• Diagnose sarcopenic Obesity: high body fat combined with low muscle mass, which raises the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

• Fall and fracture prevention: Changes in body shape and loss of leg strength directly affect balance, mobility and quality of life.

• Promptly and effectively implement evidence-based interventions, such as supervised, structured progressive resistance training (strength training) combined with adequate protein intake, to prevent the rapid, age-related loss of muscle mass and strength that leads to decreased functional capacity and independence.

​

Why Use DXA for Fitness and Health

• Define Baseline Health: Assess visceral fat levels and overall body fat percentage for long-term wellness.

• Set Precision Goals: Replace vague scale weight with actionable data on tissue changes.

• Measure  progress : Accurately monitor lean mass growth during bodybuilding phases. 

Our Team

DXA Technician - Chris is a state licensed X-Ray Technician and completed his training at UCSD School of Bone Densitometry.

Radiography Supervisor - Dr. Casian is state licensed Radiography Supervisor and Operator.
Our