 Importance of Your Body Fat Percentage
The measurement of body fat is more accurate than body mass index for assessing health.
A person can have a lot of muscle, but be considered “over-weight” by many height/weight charts. The opposite can also be true – a person can have a lot of fat and little muscle and be “over-fat” but not overweight.
Too little body fat is linked to problems with normal, healthy functioning in both men and women. It can also lead to problems with reproduction in women. Too much body fat, especially when located around the abdomen, increases the risk of many diseases, including the following:
- Type II diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Stroke
- Heart disease
- Certain cancers
For many athletes, performance is improved with optimal body composition.
By knowing your body fat percentage, and the range it falls in, you can take measures to improve your health and reduce your risk for various diseases.
The following chart shows the classification of body fat percentage ranges for each gender.
| Gender | Normal | Overweight | Obese |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Adult Male
|
4-25%
|
25-30%
|
>30%
|
|
Adult Female
|
12-29%
|
29-35%
|
>35%
|
About Advanced Body Composition Analysis – DXA
Invision Sally Jobe utilizes DXA (Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry) technology to assess your body composition. The instrument uses an x-ray technique to look at the density of the body and can then estimate the amount of lean and fat tissue. The exam is non-invasive, precise and reliable.
Risks Involved in a Advanced Body Composition Analysis – DXA
There is the risk of radiation exposure; however, it is well below the level that generally causes adverse affects.
Scheduling, Insurance and Preparation
Scheduling
Contact your personal physician for a referral for this exam. Then call 720-493-3700 to schedule.
Insurance Coverage
Advanced Body Composition Analysis – DXA is not usually reimbursed by your insurance company. Payment will normally be an out-of-pocket expense unless you have an insurance approved medical necessity for monitoring your exact body composition.
Conditions to Let Us Know About
In advance of your exam, let your scheduler or technologist know if any of the following circumstances apply to you:
- Currently pregnant
- Any barium contrast exams within 1 week of scheduled appointment
Preparation Guidelines
You do not need to do anything in particular to prepare for a body fat test. However, you should not schedule this exam within one week after having an exam that uses the following:
- Barium
- A radioisotope injection
- Oral or intravenous contrast material (such as an MRI or CT scan)
What to Expect
During the Exam
Here is generally what will happen during an Advanced Body Composition Analysis – DXA:
- You will change into surgical scrubs pants or a hospital gown.
- You will need to remove all jewelry, hair accessories, glasses, and other metal objects.
- The technologist will position you on the DXA table.
- You will need to lie still while the DXA unit scans your entire body.
The scan is completely painless and will take about 20 minutes to complete.
After the Exam
Recovery
You can return to your normal activities immediately after your Advanced Body Composition Analysis – DXA test.
Exam Results
A board-certified radiologist experienced in the interpretation of DXA body composition analysis will analyze the data and results from your exam. The results will be reported to your physician. Your physician will pass the results onto you.
During the exam, our radiologists and technologists will be happy to answer questions about the exam itself; however, they will not immediately provide you with the results of your exam.
Download and learn
Learn more about our advanced body composition analysis, and how we can help you by downloading our Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry brochure right here.
