DEXA Scan + RMR Testing
Know your body composition with clinical precision
What Gabriel reads for
Total and regional body fat percentage
Visceral adipose tissue (dangerous belly fat)
Bone mineral density (osteoporosis screening)
Cost
$150–$250
Turnaround
Immediate
Ordering path
DexaFit
Results flow
Upload + interpret in Gabriel
What this test reveals
What this test reveals
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.
People usually reach for this kind of diagnostic when they want a clearer read on total and regional body fat percentage, visceral adipose tissue (dangerous belly fat), bone mineral density (osteoporosis screening), especially when symptoms or prior testing still leave blind spots.
Once results are back, you can upload them into Gabriel to connect the findings to symptoms, protocols, and next-step testing instead of leaving them as a static report.
Commonly relevant for: Weight Management Metabolic Health, Osteoporosis, Hashimotos Thyroiditis.
Gabriel difference
Why this becomes more useful inside Gabriel
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.
Gabriel interprets results through a functional, root-cause lens: optimal ranges, pattern recognition across multiple diagnostics, and what the findings actually mean for action rather than just classification.
That means this test can feed directly into protocols, practitioner matching, food strategy, and follow-up testing instead of ending as a one-off PDF or lab portal result.
What to expect
What to expect from ordering to results
01
Order
Order directly through DexaFit or ask Gabriel whether there is a better path first.
02
Complete
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).
03
Interpret
Upload the results to Gabriel for pattern recognition, protocol suggestions, and next-step guidance.
Frequently asked questions
Questions people usually ask before ordering
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 belongs in your workup?
Tell Gabriel your symptoms, goals, and what you have already tried. You will get a more useful answer than a generic test catalog can give you.