Body Composition

What to Wear: Dress in loose, comfortable clothing. Don’t wear anything that has metal on it − zippers, buttons, buckles, decorative embellishments − as metal can interfere with the accuracy of the test.

You’ll probably be instructed to remove some of your clothes and put on a gown during the exam should your clothing have any metal on it.

Hearing aids and Jewellery will have to be removed prior to your scan.

Food and Drink: There are no dietary restrictions before a Body Composition scan. On the day of your test, you can eat as you regularly do. However, if you routinely take calcium supplements, you should stop for at least 24 hours before your exam.

Other Considerations: If you’ve recently had a Barium enema or swallow or received an injection of contrast material for a CT, MRI or radioisotope scan, let the radiographer know.

If you are pregnant, please advise your doctor and let us know. Although bone density is a safe procedure, it is not recommended for pregnant women.

Please note that DEXA/DXA scans cannot be performed within 14 days of:

• Any X-ray examination which required you to have an injection of X-ray dye or a Barium Enema, Swallow or Meal.
• A CT scan which included an injection of an X-ray dye.
• Any Nuclear Medicine Scan.

If you have had any of these procedures, please contact us and we will arrange for your appointment to be booked at the proper time

When you arrive at our clinic for your appointment, our Radiographer will provide you with a full briefing on what will happen during your appointment. Typically, an appointment will commence with a safety questionnaire in which you will consent for the scan to go ahead. You will be asked to lie on a bed and the Radiographer will position the DEXA/DXA detectors to focus on the scanned area. The special detectors measure how much radiation passes through your bones and this information is translated and compared with the bone density of a healthy adult of your own age, gender and ethnicity.

During the scan it is important to remain still to avoid blurring of the images. Each scan lasts only a few minutes.

There are no restrictions on normal activity, you can eat and drink normally, drive and return to work immediately after the scan.

The DEXA scan takes 15 to 20 minutes.

Please wear loose comfortable clothing with no metal or plastic zippers, buttons or snaps.

DEXA/DXA scans cannot be performed with 14 days of:

• Any X-ray examination which required you to have an injection of X-ray dye or a Barium Enema, Swallow or Meal.
• A CT scan which included an injection of an X-ray dye.
• Any Nuclear Medicine Scan.

If you have had any of these procedures, please contact us and we will arrange for your appointment to be booked at the proper time.

Body Composition scans do not involve any dangers and have no negative impact on your health. The radiation dosage involved in these examinations is extremely low.

DEXA Scans are considered the gold standard, they provide more accurate and in-depth information compared to a body composition scan at the gym. Where as local gym options such as The BodPod estimate body composition by air displaced in a persons body, a DEXA uses a low dose X-Ray to measure the precise percentage of muscle, fat and lean tissue – as well as checking your bone density!

You will receive your results immediately in a fully detailed report that you are able to take home.

Diagnostic Healthcare delivers the service from three main sites;

Altrincham

Mansion House, 3 Bridgewater Embankment, off Manchester Road, Altrincham, WA14 4RW

Bolton

Breightmet Health Centre, Breightmet Fold Lane, Bolton, BL2 6NT

Colchester

Diagnostic Healthcare, Unit 23 Peartree Business Centre, Peartree Road, Colchester, CO3 0JN

Please call the office to check availability 0161 929 5679 / 0330 058 4142.