Nutrition Doctor | Austin, TX
Dexa Scan Analysis: Macronutrient Recommendations & Exercise Prescriptions

The DEXA, or “Dual X-ray Absorptiometry”, is a quick, pain free scan that provides you with the most accurate and in-depth analysis of your fat tissue, lean mass, and bone density which all affect your longevity and health. A DEXA scan has no more radiation than a chest X-ray and 1/20th the radiation of a mammogram. You should get a DEXA scan once a year to follow the trends in your body composition, especially as you age.

There are four important things to learn from your DEXA scan: Body Fat Percentage; Visceral Adipose Tissue (VAT) – the fat that is inside the abdomen and around your organs; the Z-score & T-score (bone density compared to someone your sex and age); and, appendicular lean mass index (ALMI) and fat-free mass index (FFMI).

Based on the results of your DEXA scan analysis, Dr. Harper then makes personalized macronutrient recommendations and exercise prescriptions.

If you live in Central Texas or the greater Austin, TX area, schedule comprehensive and personalized weight loss, body composition, and nutrition consultation and testing with Dr. Ruthie Harper – and take the first step to regaining your health and feeling your best!

Dexa Scan Analysis
Austin, TX

The DEXA, or “Dual X-ray Absorptiometry”, is a quick, pain free scan that provides you with the most accurate and in-depth analysis of your fat tissue, lean mass, and bone density which all affect your longevity and health. A DEXA scan has no more radiation than a chest X-ray and 1/20th the radiation of a mammogram. You should get a DEXA scan once a year to follow the trends in your body composition, especially as you age.

There are four important things to learn from your DEXA scan: Body Fat Percentage; Visceral Adipose Tissue (VAT) – the fat that is inside the abdomen and around your organs; the T-score and Z-score (bone density compared to someone your sex and age); and, appendicular lean mass index (ALMI) and fat-free mass index (FFMI).

Based on the results of your DEXA scan analysis, Dr. Harper then makes personalized macronutrient recommendations and exercise prescriptions.

If you live in Central Texas or the greater Austin, TX area, schedule comprehensive and personalized weight loss, body composition, and nutrition consultation and testing with Dr. Ruthie Harper – and take the first step to regaining your health and feeling your best!

Dexa Scan Analysis

Bone Mineral Density

The Z-score is your bone density compared to someone your sex and age. It’s important to know your z score since all people will lose bone density as they age. The Z-score trends bone loss as you age.

The T-score compares your bone density to a 30-year-old whose bone density is at its peak (prior to menopause or andropause when everyone loses bone density). This score is used to diagnose osteopenia and osteoporosis.

A healthy bone density is an important part of aging. Osteoporosis influences 200 million women in the world with women being more prone to osteoporosis than men. The rate of mortalities due to hip fractures has been shown to be between 20% to 24%. This is MORTALITY! Most deaths take place within six months of the fracture.

Osteopenia – A bone density one standard deviation below the mean bone density.
Osteoporosis – A bone density two and a half standard deviation below the mean bone density.

Body Fat Percentage

The DEXA scan analyzes the patient’s body fat percentage. This is the least interesting metric to us, from a medical standpoint, although it is what most people focus on and care about!

A DEXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) scan analyzes body fat percentage by measuring the amount of X-ray energy absorbed by different tissues in the body. Fat tissue absorbs less X-ray energy than lean tissue and bone, allowing the DEXA scan to differentiate between these components and calculate the proportion of body fat relative to lean mass and bone mineral density.

By accurately measuring body fat percentage, DEXA scans help inform personalized health and fitness strategies, guide weight management efforts, and assess risk factors for chronic diseases such as obesity and metabolic disorders.

Healthy body fat percentages range from 0-20% depending on your age and gender.

Visceral Adipose Tissue (VAT)

Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is one of the most important things to look at. This is the fat that is inside the abdomen and around your organs – rather than the fat that is outside of the body’s organs and beneath the skin (subcutaneous fat). Importantly, VAT is the fat that creates disease risk.

The lower your VAT the healthier you will be. Achieving a VAT score below the 10th percentile is desirable.

When we put excess energy (food) away in our body, we want to store it into our subcutaneous fat, not inside our abdomen and around our vital organs where it causes disease. But as we overeat, we move beyond our body’s capacity to store fat subcutaneously – and so the body stores it inside the abdomen and around the organs.

Muscle Mass (ALMI & FFMI)

The fourth thing we look at are two metrics that relate to muscle mass: appendicular lean mass index (ALMI) and fat-free mass index (FFMI). These numbers represent two different ways to show you how much muscle mass you have for your height and age. Low muscle mass is a significant risk factor even in physically small individuals who appear to be at their ideal weight – a condition called sarcopenic obesity or “skinny fat.”

The numbers in this category are not what matters, what matters is the nomogram which identifies your muscle mass for your age and your sex. We will be calculating this for you. Desirable is to be above the 75th percentile for muscle mass on ALMI and FFMI based on your sex and age.

Because your muscles are the largest organ that utilize glucose, your muscle mass represents the most important organ that keeps your blood sugar and insulin levels low. These are two highly important indicators which prevent aging and disease. Maintaining a healthy amount of muscle mass is vital to longevity and health.

DEXA SCAN

The DEXA, or “Dual X-ray Absorptiometry”, is a quick, pain free scan that provides you with the most accurate and in-depth analysis of your fat tissue, lean mass, and bone density which all affect your longevity and health. A DEXA scan has no more radiation than a chest X-ray and 1/20th the radiation of a mammogram. You should get a DEXA scan once a year to follow the trends in your body composition, especially as you age.

Nutrition Doctor | Austin, TX Dexa Scan Analysis: Macronutrient Recommendations & Exercise Prescriptions

Dexa Scan Analysis Austin, TX

Dexa Scan Analysis

Bone Mineral Density

Body Fat Percentage

Visceral Adipose Tissue (VAT)

Muscle Mass (ALMI & FFMI)

DEXA SCAN

FAX #: 512.346.0100

Nutrition Doctor | Austin, TX
Dexa Scan Analysis: Macronutrient Recommendations & Exercise Prescriptions

Dexa Scan Analysis
Austin, TX