What is a DEXA body fat test?
A DEXA body fat test is a full-body scan that uses two very low-dose X-ray energies to measure how much of your body is fat, lean tissue and bone—and exactly where it is. DEXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, also written DXA) was developed for bone density testing and is now widely used by researchers, athletes and clinicians to measure body composition.
At Body Fat USA in Denver, a full-body DEXA scan costs $85, the appointment takes about 20 minutes, and your detailed report is emailed to you within about 5 minutes.
- Price: $85 for DEXA, or $175 for DEXA + RMR metabolic testing
- Appointment: 20 minutes (the scan itself is about 6–12 minutes)
- Results: full report emailed in about 5 minutes
- Equipment: GE Lunar Prodigy DEXA scanner
- Comfort: lie on an open table in your regular clothes—no swimsuit, no water tank, no enclosed pod
- Authorization: Colorado requires medical authorization for DEXA. Our Medical Authority, Dr. Ryan Engelhardt, DC, reviews every scan request—no referral from your own doctor needed
What your DEXA report shows
Your DEXA report goes far beyond a single body fat number. Each report includes:
- Total body fat percentage, plus fat mass and lean mass in pounds
- Regional body composition for your arms, legs and trunk, including right-versus-left comparisons that reveal muscle imbalances
- Android/gynoid (A/G) ratio, which shows whether you carry more fat around your midsection or your hips and thighs
- Bone mineral density with your T-score and Z-score
- Relative Skeletal Muscle Index (RSMI), a measure of muscle mass relative to height
- Estimated resting metabolic rate (formula-based—book an RMR test to measure it directly)
- Trend pages that compare every new scan with your baseline and your previous scan
We do not print an estimated visceral fat number. DEXA does not directly measure visceral fat, and we would rather give you data you can trust and track. Learn more about visceral fat and DEXA, or read our guide to understanding your DEXA report.
How a DEXA scan works
- Book online. Choose a time that works for you on our online scheduler.
- Complete your authorization. Colorado requires medical authorization before DEXA imaging. Every DEXA request is reviewed by our Medical Authority, Dr. Ryan Engelhardt, DC, before your visit—no separate doctor's appointment needed.
- Get scanned. You lie on your back on an open, padded table while the scanner arm passes over you for about 6–12 minutes. Nothing touches you and nothing is enclosed.
- Get your results. Your full report is emailed to you within about 5 minutes, and we are happy to walk you through what the numbers mean.
Is it safe? A whole-body DEXA scan uses a very low radiation dose—roughly the same as, or less than, a single day of natural background radiation. DEXA scans are not performed during pregnancy. See Is a DEXA scan safe?
How to prepare for your DEXA scan
- Wear comfortable clothes with no metal—normal gym clothes are perfect. Remove jewelry, belts and anything with zippers, snaps or underwire.
- Skip exercise before your scan on the day of your test (working out afterward is fine).
- Stay normally hydrated. Dehydration lowers measured lean mass.
- Tell us if you are or might be pregnant, or if you recently had a barium or contrast imaging study.
- For repeat scans, keep conditions the same: similar time of day, similar meals and hydration, and similar clothing.
Read the full guide: How to prepare for a DEXA body composition scan.
Who gets a DEXA scan?
- Weight loss: see whether you are losing fat or muscle, not just pounds. Why the scale lies
- GLP-1 medication users: track lean mass during rapid weight loss on Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro or Zepbound. Read more
- Strength training and body recomposition: confirm you are gaining muscle while losing fat. How to tell
- Athletes: compare training phases and spot left/right imbalances.
- Healthy aging: establish a baseline for muscle and bone. DEXA and bone density
Most clients rescan every 8–12 weeks during an active program and every 6–12 months for general tracking. How often should you get a DEXA scan?
DEXA vs. other body fat tests
Bioelectrical impedance scales (like InBody), the Bod Pod, underwater weighing and skinfold calipers all estimate body fat, but none of them measure your actual bone mineral density, and none give you a fat and lean breakdown for each arm, leg and your trunk. DEXA does—while you simply lie still on an open table.
What is a healthy body fat percentage?
There is no single ideal number—healthy ranges depend on sex, age and goals. The American Council on Exercise uses these general categories:
- Essential fat: women 10–13%, men 2–5%
- Athletes: women 14–20%, men 6–13%
- Fitness: women 21–24%, men 14–17%
- Average: women 25–31%, men 18–24%
- Obese: women 32% and above, men 25% and above
DEXA often reads a few points higher than other methods because it measures all fat tissue directly. That is why tracking your trend on the same scanner matters more than comparing numbers from different devices.
DEXA scan FAQ
A full-body DEXA body composition scan is $85. A DEXA scan plus a Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) test is $175. There is no membership, package or separate report fee.
Plan on a 20-minute appointment. The scan itself takes about 6–12 minutes depending on your height and build, and your report is emailed to you within about 5 minutes.
Colorado requires medical authorization before DEXA imaging. You do not need a referral from your own doctor—every DEXA request is reviewed by Body Fat USA's Medical Authority, Dr. Ryan Engelhardt, DC, before your appointment.
DEXA is widely used as a reference method for body composition in research and sports science. Its biggest strength is precision: when you scan under similar conditions, repeat results are very consistent, which makes DEXA ideal for tracking change over time.
Yes. A whole-body DEXA scan uses a very low dose of X-ray—roughly the same as, or less than, the natural background radiation you receive in a single day. DEXA scans are not performed during pregnancy.
No. DEXA does not directly measure visceral fat; some systems only estimate it with software models. We report measured values—total and regional fat, lean mass, bone, and android/gynoid distribution—that you can track consistently over time.
We are not set up to accept HSA or FSA cards directly, but most clients can submit their receipt to their HSA or FSA provider for reimbursement. Check with your plan administrator.
Book your DEXA scan in Denver
Body Fat USA is located at 1776 S Jackson St, Suite 1111 (11th floor), Denver, CO 80210—near the University of Denver and Cherry Creek, minutes from I-25 and Colorado Boulevard—with free parking. Open Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Call (303) 758-9552 or email info@bodyfatusa.com.
