Loading...
Recommended TestingBody CompositionUpload Compatible
DEXA Scan + RMR Testing
Know your body composition with clinical precision
$150–$250
Immediate
Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) combined with Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) testing gives you the most precise picture of your body composition and metabolic function available anywhere.
While bathroom scales and BMI calculations are notoriously unreliable, DEXA uses two low-dose X-ray beams to differentiate between bone, lean tissue, and fat tissue — region by region, limb by limb. RMR testing measures exactly how many calories your body burns at rest by analyzing your breath.
What It Measures
Total and regional body fat percentage
Visceral adipose tissue (dangerous belly fat)
Bone mineral density (osteoporosis screening)
Lean muscle mass by region
Resting metabolic rate (calories burned at rest)
Limb symmetry and muscle imbalances
Why Gabriel Recommends It
BMI is a blunt instrument. Two people at the same weight can have radically different health trajectories based on visceral fat, lean mass, and bone density. DEXA reveals the truth that the scale hides. Gabriel uses your DEXA data to personalize nutrition, supplementation, and exercise protocols — especially for thyroid patients, athletes, and anyone over 40 concerned about bone health.
What to Expect
The DEXA scan takes about 10 minutes — you lie on an open table while a scanning arm passes over you. Radiation exposure is minimal (less than a day of natural background radiation). RMR testing involves breathing into a mask for 10–15 minutes while resting. No fasting required for DEXA; 4-hour fast recommended for RMR.
How Gabriel Interprets This
Conventional practitioners read these results through a disease-focused lens — looking for what's broken. Gabriel reads them through a holistic lens — looking for what's out of balance and how to restore it. We see optimal ranges, not just "normal" ranges. We connect findings across all your diagnostics to reveal patterns that siloed specialists miss.
Related Conditions
$150–$250Immediate
Frequently Asked Questions
DEXA is considered the gold standard for body composition measurement, with accuracy within 1-2% for body fat percentage. It's significantly more accurate than bioimpedance scales, calipers, or BMI calculations. It also provides regional breakdowns (arms, legs, trunk) that no other consumer method can match.
Yes. A DEXA scan uses extremely low-dose X-rays, roughly equivalent to 1-2 days of natural background radiation, or about 1/10th of a chest X-ray. It's considered very safe for repeated measurements.
For body composition tracking, every 3-6 months gives you meaningful data on changes. For bone density monitoring, annually is standard. More frequent scanning won't show statistically significant changes and isn't worth the cost.
Resting Metabolic Rate testing measures exactly how many calories your body burns at rest. This removes the guesswork from nutrition planning. Combined with DEXA body composition data, you get a precise picture of how much to eat and what your body is actually made of.
Visceral fat surrounds your internal organs (liver, pancreas, intestines) and is the most metabolically dangerous type of fat. DEXA quantifies it precisely. High visceral fat is linked to cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers, even in people who appear lean externally.
Typically $100-250 depending on location and whether you're getting body composition only or bone density as well. Some facilities bundle DEXA with RMR testing for $200-350. Insurance usually covers bone density DEXA for women over 65 or those with osteoporosis risk factors.
Not sure which test is right?
Tell Gabriel your symptoms and health goals. Get personalized diagnostic recommendations backed by evidence, not guesswork.