A DEXA whole body composition scan offers a comprehensive assessment of your body fat, muscle and bone composition.  It provides detailed information about the distribution of fat, indicating whether it's subcutaneous (under the skin) or visceral/bad (fat around the organs). Additionally, it measures lean mass, which includes muscles, organs, and other tissues, to help understand overall fitness levels and potential health risks.

With its ability to accurately quantify these components, a DEXA whole body scan is a valuable tool for those seeking precise information about  their body composition and health status.

Does a DEXA scan tell me anything about Visceral (Bad) Fat?

Visceral fat is the most important indicator for your health. Visceral fat is the fat stored around your internal organs and is associated with a range of serious diseases, including heart disease, colon cancer, stroke, type-2 diabetes and even dementia.

A result below 100cm2 is usually considered normal (and the lower the better) but the significance of your score varies by age, sex, ethnicity and lifestyle - you will need an expert interpretation to put your result into context.

What about bone density?

DEXA equipment was designed to measure bone density and detect osteopenia and osteoporosis.  Our Whole-body scan also includes a whole body assessment of your bone density.

If on the other hand, you are only looking to check your bone density, you may opt for our cheaper dedicated Bone Density scan. In a bone density scan, readings are taken from the hip and spine (with identical calibration as other scanners in Malta), and results in an even lower x-ray dose that the whole body scan.

What detail is included in the whole body DEXA result?

Total body weight (kg)

Body mass index (kg/m²) (BMI)

Basal metabolic rate (kcal/Day)

Total body % Fat

Fat mass/height² (kg/m²) (FMI)

Android/Gynoid % fat ratio

Trunk/legs % fat ratio

Trunk/limb fat mass ratio

Visceral Adipose Tissue Area (cm²)

Visceral Adipose Tissue Mass (g)

Visceral Adipose Tissue Volume (cm³)

Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue Area (cm²)

Total body % Lean

Lean mass/height² (kg/m²)

Append. Lean Mass/Height² (kg/m²)

Total body % Bone

What information does a DEXA scan give about fat and muscle distribution?

In the report, a whole body DEXA scan shows results that inform us about your fat distribution in different parts of the body:

• Android/Gynoid Ratio

This is the ratio of your body fat percentage in the android (belly) region compared to the gynoid (hips and thighs) region.

• Trunk/legs % fat ratio Ratio

This ratio compares the body fat percentage in your upper body (the trunk) to that in your legs.

• Trunk/Limb Fat Mass Ratio

The ratio of the total fat mass in your trunk to the fat mass in your arms and legs combined.

Conclusion

A DEXA whole body composition scan gives you a huge amount of meaningful information that you can use to achieve a healthier body composition.  A Bone Density Scan provides specific information about your bone strength.  Get in touch with us, or click below to book yourself a DEXA scan today.  Our radiologist will explain the scan findings in detail, and we encourage you to consult a nutrition specialist or personal trainer of your choice to support your health improvement journey.