📌 Unlike traditional diagnostic methods, a DEXA scan provides:
- Total body fat percentage – More precise than BMI, which doesn’t differentiate between fat and muscle.
- Visceral fat measurement – Detects dangerous organ fat linked to metabolic diseases.
- Lean muscle mass tracking – Identifies sarcopenia, muscle imbalances, and post-surgical atrophy.
- Bone mineral density (BMD) measurement – Diagnoses osteopenia and osteoporosis early.
- Regional fat & muscle distribution – Helps assess asymmetries, injuries, and targeted weight loss/gain.
🚀 This level of detail helps physicians detect health risks early, track treatment effectiveness, and tailor patient care.
When to Recommend a DEXA Scan to Your Patients
1️⃣ Screening for Osteoporosis & Fracture Risk
📌 Why It’s Important:
- 1 in 2 women and 1 in 4 men over 50 will experience an osteoporosis-related fracture.
- DEXA scans measure bone mineral density (BMD) and help diagnose osteoporosis and osteopenia early.
- Used to monitor bone loss over time and evaluate the need for lifestyle or pharmacological interventions.
📌 Who Needs It?
- Women aged 65+ and men aged 70+ for routine screening.
- Postmenopausal women under 65 with risk factors (early menopause, family history).
- Men under 70 with osteoporosis risk factors (low testosterone, sedentary lifestyle).
- Patients with fractures from minor falls, suggesting low bone density.
- Individuals on long-term corticosteroids, increasing osteoporosis risk.
👉 Example: A DEXA scan revealing a BMD T-score of -2.5 confirms osteoporosis, allowing for early intervention with medication, strength training, and calcium/vitamin D supplementation.
2️⃣ Evaluating Unexplained Weight Loss or Muscle Loss (Sarcopenia)
📌 Why It’s Important:
- DEXA scans help assess lean muscle mass in patients experiencing unintentional weight loss, frailty, or muscle deterioration.
- Sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss) is linked to falls, fractures, and metabolic decline.
📌 Who Needs It?
- Older adults experiencing muscle weakness, difficulty walking, or falls.
- Patients recovering from prolonged illness, hospitalization, or surgery.
- Individuals with chronic conditions like cancer, diabetes, or autoimmune diseases.
👉 Example: A DEXA scan showing low muscle mass in a patient with rapid weight loss can indicate cachexia or sarcopenia, prompting interventions like protein supplementation and resistance training.
3️⃣ Assessing Visceral Fat & Metabolic Health in At-Risk Patients
📌 Why It’s Important:
- DEXA scans measure visceral fat, which is strongly linked to heart disease, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.
- Helps identify cardiometabolic risk factors beyond standard cholesterol and glucose tests.
📌 Who Needs It?
- Patients with obesity or overweight looking for a better health risk assessment than BMI.
- Patients with insulin resistance, prediabetes, or Type 2 diabetes.
- Individuals with high cholesterol, hypertension, or metabolic syndrome.
- 👉 Example: A DEXA scan showing high visceral fat levels in a prediabetic patient may indicate a need for lifestyle changes, nutritional interventions, and weight management strategies.
4️⃣ Post-Surgical & Rehabilitation Patients Needing Body Composition Monitoring
📌 Why It’s Important:
- Surgical patients often experience muscle loss and fat gain during recovery.
- DEXA scans track lean mass restoration and prevent long-term health complications.
📌 Who Needs It?
- Patients recovering from orthopedic surgeries (ACL, hip replacement, spinal fusion, etc.).
- Athletes recovering from injuries needing to rebuild muscle.
- Individuals undergoing bariatric surgery needing fat loss & muscle retention tracking.
👉 Example: A DEXA scan after ACL surgery shows a 15% loss in quadriceps muscle, prompting a targeted rehab plan to regain strength and prevent compensation injuries.
5️⃣ Monitoring Patients Using GLP-1 Medications for Weight Loss (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro)
📌 Why It’s Important:
- Patients on GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) often experience rapid weight loss.
- DEXA scans distinguish between fat loss and muscle loss, helping adjust nutrition & exercise plans.
📌 Who Needs It?
- Patients prescribed GLP-1s for obesity, diabetes, or metabolic health improvement.
- Individuals losing weight rapidly and at risk of muscle loss.
👉 Example: If a DEXA scan shows excessive muscle loss in a patient on Ozempic, interventions like higher protein intake and resistance training can be implemented to preserve lean mass.
6️⃣ Athletes & Active Patients Tracking Performance & Injury Risk
📌 Why It’s Important:
- Athletes and fitness enthusiasts benefit from tracking lean mass, body fat percentage, and muscle imbalances.
- DEXA scans help detect asymmetries and prevent overuse injuries.
📌 Who Needs It?
- Competitive athletes & bodybuilders optimizing performance.
- Recreational fitness enthusiasts wanting precise body composition data.
- Patients recovering from sports injuries needing objective rehab tracking.
👉 Example: A DEXA scan revealing a muscle imbalance between the left and right legs in a runner can prompt corrective exercises to prevent further injuries.
Final Verdict: Why Every Physician Should Consider Recommending DEXA Scans
- More accurate than BMI for assessing obesity and body composition.
- Identifies osteoporosis risk before fractures occur.
- Detects muscle loss and imbalances for better rehab outcomes.
- Tracks weight loss effectiveness and prevents excessive muscle loss.
- Helps manage metabolic health by assessing visceral fat levels.
🚀 A DEXA scan is one of the most valuable diagnostic tools for physicians looking to provide data-driven, personalized healthcare.
Refer Your Patients for a DEXA Scan at KALOS in San Francisco
Looking for a trusted DEXA scan provider for your patients? KALOS offers expert DEXA scanning in San Francisco for osteoporosis screening, metabolic health tracking, weight loss monitoring, and sports rehab.
📍 Refer your patients today—because real data leads to better care.
