Understanding your DEXA Report

Your DEXA report describes body composition at the time of your scan. This guide explains the labels, the difference between fat percentages, and how to compare follow-up scans.

See the actual layout: View sample report excerpts with explanations. Ready for your own baseline? Book a $85 DEXA scan in Denver.

How DEXA assesses body composition

DEXA uses two X-ray energy levels and software analysis to estimate the amounts of fat, lean soft tissue and bone mineral. It provides a detailed regional breakdown, but it does not count individual fat cells or directly isolate skeletal muscle. Results can differ between devices, software and measurement methods.

Total mass and scale weight

The scale and the scan use different methods to estimate body mass. Small differences are possible. They are not explained by a difference in gravity between the two tests. Use the scan-derived mass when interpreting the report and compare the same report fields over time.

Fat mass and the two fat percentages

Fat mass is the amount of fat reported in pounds or kilograms. Region %Fat expresses fat mass relative to the relevant total mass, including bone mineral content. For overall body fat percentage on the sample report, use the Total row under Region %Fat.

Tissue %Fat excludes bone mineral content from the denominator. This produces a different percentage. In our sample, fat mass is 58.8 lb, total mass is 228.1 lb, and Region %Fat is approximately 25.8%. Tissue %Fat is 26.9%. The labels refer to different calculations, not two conflicting tests.

Body fat percentage is one piece of information. Reference categories are not a diagnosis or an individual goal. Discuss health-related interpretation with your clinician.

Lean mass is not the same as muscle mass

Lean soft tissue includes muscle, organs, body water and other non-fat soft tissue. A higher Tissue %Lean does not prove that you gained muscle, and a lower lean mass value does not automatically mean muscle loss. Hydration, meals, recent exercise and preparation can affect the result.

Regional composition and the A/G ratio

Your report separates areas such as the arms, legs and trunk and compares right and left lean mass. These comparisons show distribution; they do not diagnose an injury or identify the cause of an asymmetry.

The android region describes the midsection; the gynoid region describes the hips and upper thighs. The android/gynoid ratio compares fat percentages in those regions. It is not the ratio of the total pounds of belly fat to hip fat. It is not a visceral-fat measurement, and Body Fat USA does not provide a visceral-fat estimate.

Bone mineral content and bone density

BMC is the amount of bone mineral, not the weight of the entire living skeleton. BMD relates mineral content to the scanned bone area. T-scores compare bone density with a young-adult reference; Z-scores use an age-matched reference.

Our whole-body composition scan is informational and non-diagnostic. Its bone results are not interchangeable with a clinician-directed hip-and-spine study. Do not diagnose osteoporosis from the color of a whole-body reference chart. Share bone-health questions with your clinician.

The RMR estimate on your DEXA report

The Harris-Benedict RMR value is calculated from a predictive equation. It is not a breathing-test measurement of your metabolism. A separate RMR test measures resting energy expenditure under the conditions of the test.

Relative Skeletal Muscle Index

RSMI relates lean mass in the arms and legs to height squared. A low value can prompt a clinical discussion, but the number alone does not diagnose sarcopenia. Strength, physical function and clinical context also matter.

Trend pages and meaningful comparisons

Your first scan establishes a baseline. Follow-up pages can compare the current scan with your first and previous scans. Read fat mass, lean mass and total mass together. A stable scale weight can occur while body composition changes.

Precision describes repeatability; accuracy describes closeness to a reference. A report footnote about repeat scans is not a universal guarantee of accuracy for every person or every measurement. Very small differences can reflect variability. Learn about accuracy and consistency.

For useful comparisons, return to the same scanner and keep hydration, clothing, meals and time of day as consistent as practical. Follow our preparation instructions.

The assessment section

Template checkboxes for nutrition, weight management or strength do not establish a diagnosis or a treatment plan. Body Fat USA explains your report data. Your clinician, dietitian or trainer can help you decide what changes are appropriate.

Get your own baseline

A DEXA scan is $85 with a 20-minute appointment. Add a separate RMR test for a combined $175, 30-minute visit. DEXA reports are emailed in about 5 minutes after the scan. Medical authorization is handled through our intake process before testing.

Book DEXA - $85 See the sample reports | View pricing

By Sean Selters. Explanations updated October 26, 2026. Source: International Society for Clinical Densitometry adult positions and the Body Fat USA sample report.