DEXA Scan
Gold-standard body composition and bone density. Annual baseline, or during active recomposition.
What it does
Provides what a scale cannot — precise lean mass, fat distribution, and bone density. Useful as a baseline and during active body-composition work; the bone-density data becomes especially valuable later in life.
Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry uses two X-ray beams to differentiate fat, lean tissue, and bone, producing region-specific data on distribution and density.
What the evidence shows
Overall evidence strength: High certainty
Who it's for, who should skip
Anyone wanting a precise body-composition and bone-density baseline, or tracking recomposition. Annual or biennial is enough — single-session lean-mass swings are mostly hydration, glycogen, and gut content.
Running it
Measuring it
Retest Body fat % — No guideline interval for body composition — rescan when the expected change exceeds the scanner's least-significant change..
Stacking & alternatives
Access & cost
Prescription or clinician order — typically via imaging center (DEXA).
Last reviewed 27 August 2026.