Your DEXA scan shows us four important characteristics: your total amount of lean tissue and muscle, your body fat percentage, the proportion of that fat located in and around your internal organs (visceral adipose tissue or VAT), and your bone health as measured by its density.

These four characteristics help us determine the most effective approach to managing your long-term health. Lean tissue is metabolically active, helping us burn fat and manage our blood sugar, as well as helping us perform normal activities. Body fat percentage tells us what portion of your weight comes from excess fat. A portion of body fat is visceral fat, and this can interfere with the normal function of our organs, causing or exacerbating diabetes, cholesterol issues, and other complications. Some people can carry extra body fat without it interfering with their overall metabolic health, while others may be relatively lean but what fat they do have is concentrated around their organs and drives metabolic disease. Until we know how much fat is present and where it is concentrated, we cannot set meaningful weight goals. Finally, bone mineral density tells us the health of your skeletal system and your future fracture risk which helps set appropriate exercise goals.