DEXA Body Composition Scan

An AI-enhanced dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan providing detailed segmental analysis of lean mass, fat mass, bone mineral density, and visceral adipose tissue across the entire body, with results contextualised by exercise physiologists for fitness and longevity planning.

DexaFit Asia's DEXA Body Composition Scan goes beyond the standard bone density assessment that most hospital radiology departments offer, treating the scan as a comprehensive body composition profiling tool rather than solely an osteoporosis screening device. The same dual-energy X-ray technology that measures bone mineral density also precisely quantifies soft tissue composition throughout the body, and DexaFit's AI-enhanced analysis extracts substantially more information from each scan than conventional DEXA reporting software. The scan itself takes approximately ten to fifteen minutes. The patient lies on a padded table while the scanner arm passes from head to toe, emitting two low-energy X-ray beams at different frequencies. The differential absorption of these beams by bone, lean tissue, and fat tissue allows the system to calculate the mass of each component with a precision of roughly one to two percent — far more accurate than bioelectrical impedance scales, skinfold calipers, or underwater weighing. The AI analysis layer segments the body into anatomical regions — left arm, right arm, left leg, right leg, trunk, and head — and reports lean mass and fat mass for each independently. This regional breakdown reveals asymmetries that whole-body averages mask: a right leg carrying significantly less muscle than the left might indicate a compensation pattern or previous injury that warrants attention, while disproportionate trunk fat relative to limb fat points to visceral adiposity even when overall body fat percentage appears acceptable. Visceral adipose tissue receives dedicated analysis because its metabolic significance differs fundamentally from subcutaneous fat. Visceral fat surrounds the liver, intestines, and other abdominal organs, and produces inflammatory cytokines and hormones that independently elevate risks for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers. A person with a normal BMI can still carry elevated visceral fat — a condition sometimes called metabolically obese, normal weight — making direct measurement via DEXA more informative than any external body measurement. Bone mineral density is reported for the lumbar spine and hip using the WHO T-score classification, screening for osteopenia and osteoporosis. For younger patients and athletes, the Z-score comparison against age-matched peers is often more relevant, identifying whether bone density is tracking appropriately for their demographic. After the scan, results are reviewed with the patient by staff trained in exercise physiology, who contextualise the numbers against the individual's training goals, sport, or health objectives. The report includes trend tracking for repeat visitors, allowing precise measurement of how body composition changes over time in response to diet, exercise, or medical interventions. A doctor's referral is required under Singapore regulations, but same-day teleconsultation is available for those who arrive without one.