DEXA Body Composition Scan

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan measuring precise body fat percentage, visceral fat distribution, lean muscle mass, and bone density — providing the clinical baseline for personalised weight and metabolic care.

HMI Medical uses DEXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) as the gold-standard tool for body composition analysis and bone density measurement. Unlike simple BMI calculations or bioelectrical impedance devices, DEXA produces a segmental breakdown of fat mass, lean muscle mass, and bone mineral content across different body regions — including the clinically significant visceral (abdominal) fat compartment, which is more strongly linked to cardiometabolic risk than subcutaneous fat. The DEXA scan at HMI Medical takes approximately 10–20 minutes and exposes patients to a very low level of X-ray radiation — significantly less than a chest X-ray. Results are presented as a detailed report showing total body fat percentage, lean mass distribution across limbs and trunk, visceral adipose tissue (VAT) volume, and a bone mineral density T-score compared against age-matched reference ranges. In the clinical context of HMI Medical's weight management programme, the DEXA scan serves as the objective starting point for treatment planning. The body composition data informs whether a patient's primary goal should be fat reduction, muscle preservation, metabolic correction, or bone health improvement — and it provides an objective baseline for measuring the effectiveness of any subsequent intervention, whether dietary, pharmaceutical, or lifestyle-based. The DEXA scan is performed at the Amara Health Screening Centre and Farrer Park Medical Centre, both staffed by experienced radiographers and overseen by consultant radiologists. Results are reviewed by a weight management physician during a follow-up consultation.