DEXA Scan Scottsdale: Discover What Your Scale Can't Tell You

DEXA (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) uses low-dose x-rays at two different energy levels to differentiate between bone, lean tissue, and fat tissue as the scanner passes over your body. The scan is completely non-invasive—you simply lie on a table fully clothed while the machine analyzes your body composition. The radiation exposure is minimal, equivalent to about one day of natural background radiation or a few hours on an airplane, making it safe for regular monitoring every 3–6 months.

DEXA scanning is the gold standard for body composition analysis with accuracy within 1–2%. Compare this to bioelectrical impedance scales (5–15% error), skinfold calipers (3–5% error), or hydrostatic weighing (2–3% error). This precision matters when tracking progress—you need to know if changes are real or just measurement variability. DEXA's accuracy makes it the preferred method used in research studies and by professional athletes monitoring body composition.

The body composition scan ($149) focuses on measuring body fat percentage, lean muscle mass, and visceral fat distribution—ideal for fitness tracking, weight loss monitoring, and metabolic health assessment. The bone density scan ($149) measures bone mineral density in your spine, hips, and forearms, calculates your FRAX score for fracture risk, and screens for osteoporosis—recommended for perimenopausal women and anyone over 50. The combo package ($249) includes both analyses in a single scan, providing complete body composition and bone health assessment.

No special preparation is required for DEXA scans—you don't need to fast, avoid caffeine, or control hydration like with other body composition tests. Simply wear comfortable clothing without metal (no zippers, underwire bras, or metal buttons). Remove jewelry, watches, and phones before the scan. Avoid taking calcium supplements 24 hours before a bone density scan as they can interfere with results.

For body composition tracking during active fitness or weight loss efforts, scanning every 3–6 months provides useful feedback on whether your training and nutrition are producing desired results. For general health monitoring or maintenance, annual DEXA scans are sufficient to track changes over time. For bone density monitoring, most people retest every 1–2 years unless actively treating osteoporosis, in which case more frequent monitoring may be recommended to assess treatment effectiveness.

DEXA scans are valuable for anyone serious about body composition goals—athletes optimizing performance, people tracking weight loss to ensure they're losing fat not muscle, strength trainers building muscle mass, or anyone wanting accurate baseline data. Bone density scans are particularly important for women approaching or past menopause, anyone over 50, people with family history of osteoporosis, those taking medications affecting bone health, or anyone concerned about fracture risk. If you're serious about understanding your body rather than just tracking weight, DEXA provides the data you need.

All DEXA scans are performed at our Scottsdale clinic located at 16430 N Scottsdale Rd, Suite 110, Scottsdale, AZ 85254. We use hospital-grade DEXA technology with physician-guided analysis of your results. Appointments are required—you can book online or call (480) 944-5400. We serve patients throughout the Phoenix metro area including Paradise Valley, Cave Creek, Fountain Hills, and surrounding communities.

Your comprehensive DEXA report includes total body fat percentage, regional fat distribution (arms, legs, trunk), lean muscle mass (total and by region), visceral adipose tissue (fat around organs), bone mineral density with T-scores and Z-scores (if bone density scan ordered), and comparisons to healthy reference ranges for your age and sex. For body composition scans, you'll also receive metabolic rate calculations based on your lean mass. Results can be reviewed in person at our clinic or discussed during a virtual consultation.

DEXA scans for body composition purposes are typically not covered by insurance, though bone density scans may be covered for patients meeting specific criteria (women over 65, postmenopausal women with risk factors, history of fractures). Our transparent pricing is $149 for body composition or bone density scans individually, or $249 for the combo. All Preamble services are HSA/FSA eligible. We recommend checking with your insurance provider if you're specifically seeking bone density screening for medical purposes.

Yes! Tracking progress over time is one of the most valuable applications of DEXA scanning. When you scan with us at Preamble Health, we store your results and create comparison reports showing changes in body fat, muscle mass, visceral fat, and bone density between scans. This longitudinal tracking reveals whether your training, nutrition, or medical interventions are producing desired results. Many clients establish a baseline DEXA scan, implement changes for 3–6 months, then retest to objectively measure progress.

DEXA scans use very low-dose radiation—approximately 0.001 mSv (millisieverts) per scan, which is less than the radiation you receive from one day of natural background radiation or a few hours of air travel. For comparison, a chest x-ray delivers about 0.1 mSv (100 times more) and a CT scan delivers 7–10 mSv (7,000–10,000 times more). The radiation exposure from DEXA is so minimal that regular scanning every 3–6 months for body composition tracking presents negligible risk and is considered safe even for frequent monitoring.