An X-ray that can tell tissue apart
DEXA goes beneath the surface to precisely show how much fat, bone and lean mass (muscle, organs) your body is made of and where it sits. These measurements provide valuable insights into your metabolic health: how well your body regulates blood sugar, processes fats and manages energy. Excess visceral fat and low muscle mass are associated with poorer metabolic health. Maintaining muscle mass, particularly in your arms and legs, is associated with healthier ageing and greater physical strength and independence. Strong bones help reduce fracture risk and support mobility and independence as you age.
How it works
What is DEXA?
DEXA stands for dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. It uses two very low-dose X-ray energies that pass through your body.
Bone, fat and lean tissue absorb these energies differently. By analysing these differences, DEXA provides precise measurements of your body composition: how much fat, lean mass and bone mineral your body contains, and how they are distributed.
Why that tells you more than weight
DEXA separates body weight into its different components and body regions. Unlike a scale or bioimpedance device, a DEXA may reveal that people with same weight actually have very different amounts and distributions of fat, muscle and bone.
Repeated measurements can also help you track changes over time and evaluate the impact of lifestyle interventions.
Importantly, certain DEXA measurements, particularly visceral fat and muscle-related lean mass, provide valuable insights into your metabolic health and are early markers to assess the risk of metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
At Vitary, we put these measurements into the context of your age, lifestyle and goals, helping you identify where change may have the greatest impact on these markers and health in general.
What it does not do
DEXA is not a scan of your organs and it is not designed to detect cancer or other diseases. This can be done by MRI and other diagnostic imaging techniques.
DEXA provides measurements of body composition and bone mineral density. We help you understand those measurements in the context of your health, lifestyle and goals.
Your visit, from arrival to personalized plan
Your visit takes about 45 minutes. The scan itself takes only a few minutes. Most of our time is spent measuring, explaining your results and providing you with personalized recommendations.
- 1Arrive
Please come five to ten minutes early and take a seat in the lounge. There is coffee and tea. We come and get you when it is time.
- 2Scan
You lie comfortably on your back while the scanner passes over your body. The scan is non-invasive and painless: no injections, no contrast agents and nothing enclosed around you.
- 3Understand
Your results are available immediately. Together, we look at your visceral fat, muscle mass and bone health and explain what the numbers mean for you.
- 4Act
We put your results in context, identify where change may have the greatest impact, and translate this into practical, personalized next steps.
Because DEXA uses X-rays, every request is reviewed beforehand by a BIG-registered physician before your visit to confirm that the scan is appropriate for you.
How to prepare
A DEXA scan is quick, non-invasive and painless. There is very little you need to do to prepare.
For an accurate measurement, wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing or sportswear without any metal. In most cases, you can simply keep your clothes on during the scan.
What to wear
- A plain T-shirt or tank top
- Leggings, yoga pants, sweatpants or shorts
- Underwear without metal
- A sports bra without underwire or metal clasps
Please avoid
- Zippers, metal buttons, snaps, hooks or rivets
- Belts and metal buckles
- Underwire bras
- Jewellery, watches and necklaces
- Clothing with metallic thread or foil prints
Metal can interfere with the scan. If something you are wearing contains metal, we may ask you to remove or change that item before we start. A private changing area is available.
Eating and drinking
Eat and drink normally before your appointment (there is no need to fast). Try to arrive normally hydrated and avoid a large meal or drinking a large amount of fluid in the few hours before your scan.
For follow-up scans, try to come under similar conditions each time so your measurements are as comparable as possible.
Take the next step towards better health
Understand what is happening beneath the surface and discover where you can make the greatest impact. With precise DEXA measurements and personalized expert guidance, we help you turn insights into meaningful action. Start by answering a few short questions to confirm whether a scan is appropriate for you.
- Launch offer €199, until 31 December, then €299.all-in
- No referral needed