DEXA scans: what they can and can't tell you
I had one recently, and the results were eye-opening.
I'm 42 years old, on the verge of perimenopause and coming out of the metaphorical trenches, so to speak, as my children get older. As much as I've wanted to prioritize myself over the years, it's been hard when I'm short on time and, quite frankly, wherewithal.
As I get deeper into perimenopause, I wanted to set a baseline for where I am physically. I thought a DEXA scan (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) would be a great starting place. It measures bone density and body composition, so I thought it would give me a clear snapshot of where I am—and where I need to be.
The appointment was easy to book online, as there were about 4 places to choose from in Atlanta with DEXA machines. I arrived on time and was whisked into the room, where I was asked to take off all metal and lie down on the machine. It scanned my body for 6 minutes from head to toe, and I had to stay still (which is very hard for me!).
Once the scan was complete, the second half of the appointment began, which was an analysis of the scan. The provider, who was not a medical doctor, went over the results with me. The good news: my bones looked good, strong and healthy. I had no visceral fat, which means that my organs weren't stuffed with inflammatory fat.
However, what really stopped me in my tracks—and therefore made the whole visit worth it—was the readout on my body composition. I am almost 40% fat.
This was a true wake-up call for me even though I've considered myself "skinny fat" for many years. I carry a belly—I've had 2 kids!—and have always been an "eat what you want" kind of gal.
I totally will never restrict myself, but it was a bit of a shock to my system to have it in black and white that I really do need to start watching what I eat (goodbye, kids' breakfast scraps and cupcakes) and pay more attention to weight training. I was also shocked to see that I was likely eating in an extreme deficit (remember I said I was busy?) and that the quality of what I was eating wasn't fueling me in the best way possible.
While dropping pounds on the scale will be nice to see, I'm really eager to see that body fat % go down to a normal female range, which is 21 to 31%. The goal feels achievable, and I'm glad I got the scan to help jolt me into action. I'm now working with a physical therapist on stability exercises for my hypermobility so that I can do weight training exercises the right way, and I've made it harder for me to eat poorly by scheduling and preparing for meal times.
If you're curious about your bone density or body composition, a DEXA scan might be a worthwhile investment.
