DEXA Full Body Composition Scan

Go beyond just a BMI and get your true fitness performance and well being with a full body DEXA Scan. Get a full report on your muscle mass vs fat, bone density and more! Book an appointment today.

We Accept All Requisitions from Any Clinic

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Purpose of a Total Body Composition (DEXA) Scan

A Total Body Composition Scan (DEXA) allows you to take the guesswork out of establishing your baseline health and fitness level to allow you to optimize your performance. We use a Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) scan to assess body composition in a convenient and non-invasive way to create a comprehensive report which includes your body fat percentage, fat mass and lean mass, android/gynoid ratio, bone mineral density, resting metabolic rate and more. By performing DEXA Scans regularly over time, you can more accurately measure progress against your original baseline report.

How to Prepare for Your Exam

  • IMPORTANT: if there is a chance that you are pregnant, the exam may not be possible.
  • DO NOT consume supplements with CALCIUM or CREATINE, or perform vigorous exercise for 24 hours prior to the scan.
  • Refrain from eating a heavy meal 2 hours before the scan. Drink adequate water to maintain normal hydration levels.
  • Your appointment cannot be booked within 2 weeks of a barium study, contrast CT, or nuclear medicine scan.
  • Remove all metal and jewelry near the area to be imaged.
  • Please note the maximum weight for the scan is 325lbs.
  • DEXA Scans are not covered by Alberta Health Services. The cost of the scan is required prior to your exam.
  • Please be sure to arrive at least 15 minutes before your appointment to allow enough time to change and prepare for your examination.

What to Expect During Your Exam

  • A DEXA scan is a medical grade test and is considered to be the gold standard in body composition.
  • DEXA scans are over 99% accurate (although some restrictions may apply)
  • The entire process takes about 20-30 minutes to complete from the time you arrive at our clinic.
  • Once the scan is complete, you will be given a report with precise measurements of your body composition, including your body fat percentage, lean mass, fat mass and regional distribution of lean and fat tissue.
  • To get started, you will be provided with a gown to change into, and then led to the exam room by one of our technologists.
  • You will be asked to lie on the scanner bed on your back. The technologist will position you correctly on the bed and the scan will begin.
  • The actual scan takes approximately 10 minutes, where you will be required to lie still.
  • While you are getting dressed the report will be prepared and printed. After you are dressed the technologist will spend a few minutes with you to review and explain the results.
  • You will be provided with a report to take home with you.
  • For people considering a weight loss or fitness program, your first measurement can be an important baseline to measure progress and to help tailor your program to your specific needs.

How to Book Your Exam

  • DEXA Scans are not covered by Alberta Health Services. The cost of the scan is required prior to your exam.
  • As a requirement by Alberta Health, all DEXA Body Composition Scans now require a referral letter or completed requisition form from a family physician.
  • You can book by phone by calling us during our regular business hours.
    West Edmonton: 780-705-9982
    Chappelle Crossing: 780-540-9066
    Spruce Grove: 587-461-2221
  • You can also conveniently book online.
  • We offer same-day or next-day appointments.

Download a Requisition Form for Your Physician

  • Due to Alberta Health’s requirement of a referral letter or requisition form for all DEXA Body Composition Scans, we have prepared a convenient form for your family physician.
  • Please download and print this form to take to your doctor. Only your doctor can fill out this form.
  • You can also request the number of scans on the form to avoid the need for multiple letters for those seeking regular scans over time.

Find a Family Physician in your area

  • If you do not have a family physician or need assistance with a requisition form or referral letter albertafindadoctor.ca can help you find a family doctor accepting patients in your area.

What BMI doesn’t tell you about your health

The body mass index, better known as BMI, is a measure of obesity that has been in use for over 200 years. It was a formula created by Belgian mathematician Adolphe Quetelet. It takes your weight in kilograms and divides it by height in meters squared. And from this you get a number that represent your total body mass relative to your height and weight. The ranges go from underweight to obese, and one decimal point can tip you in either direction. BMI has been used to study obesity in large populations, and for the most part it’s okay for those types of studies. However, when individual health is the topic at hand, using the body mass index can make judging a person’s health a little bit trickier.

One of the formula’s obvious flaws… is that it has absolutely no way of discriminating fat and muscle.

Continue reading more about BMI’s flaws at Vox.com