DEXA Body Composition Scan

DEXA SF uses dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry to measure body fat percentage, lean muscle mass, bone mineral density, and visceral fat with clinical-grade precision. Each 6-minute scan generates a full regional breakdown across the arms, legs, and trunk, and includes a consultation with a credentialed technician who interprets the results and links them to training and nutrition goals. The low-radiation exposure — roughly equivalent to half a day of natural background radiation — makes regular retesting practical for ongoing body composition tracking.

DEXA SF's body composition scanning service uses dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, a technology widely used in sports science, clinical nutrition research, and bone health assessment. Unlike bioelectrical impedance scales or skinfold calipers, DEXA uses two X-ray energies at different absorption rates to distinguish bone mineral from fat tissue and lean soft tissue with a measurement error of approximately ±1.5%. Each scan takes around 6 minutes on the scanning table, with the full appointment slot running 20–30 minutes to allow time for preparation and the post-scan consultation. The scan report provides a comprehensive body composition breakdown including total body fat percentage, total lean muscle mass, total bone mineral density (BMD), visceral adipose tissue (VAT) measurement, and regional segmentation showing the fat and lean mass distribution across the arms, legs, and trunk separately. The regional data is particularly valuable for identifying muscle imbalances between limbs, tracking asymmetric responses to training, and monitoring fat redistribution patterns over time. Every appointment at DEXA SF includes a one-on-one consultation with a credentialed technician — either a Registered Dietitian or an Exercise Physiologist — who is trained to contextualise the scan data against the client's fitness goals, dietary habits, and training programme. This consultation distinguishes the DEXA SF experience from bare-scan services: the numbers are translated into practical guidance on caloric targets, macronutrient distribution, resistance training priorities, and a timeline for meaningful retesting. DEXA SF recommends monthly retesting for clients who are actively training or changing their nutrition. The 2-scan pack ($199) and 4-scan pack ($349) are structured specifically for this tracking cadence, making serial measurement accessible without the cost of individual appointments. The radiation dose per scan is approximately 0.4 microsieverts — well below the dose of a standard chest X-ray and comparable to less than half a day of natural background radiation — making frequent retesting safe for the vast majority of clients. The studio is co-located inside Custom Fit, a personal training gym at 323 Octavia Street in Hayes Valley, which allows clients to pair scan results directly with training programmes and nutritional coaching on-site. DEXA SF's 4-stage methodology — Educate, Analyse, Train, Retest — is designed to make body composition data actionable rather than a one-time data point, supporting sustained progress towards physique, performance, or health optimisation goals.