Whole-body composition measurement by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)
Body composition (DEXA body scan) in Casablanca
The DEXA body scan measures your body composition: fat mass, lean mass (that is, mainly muscle), bone mass and visceral fat, the fat that surrounds the organs of the abdomen. It is useful for sports, nutrition and monitoring a diet. It is done without a prescription. The machine is the one used for bone density scans and uses a very low dose of X-rays. The exam takes about 15 minutes and the report is handed to you the same day.
Duration, report and equipment
Duration
The exam takes about 15 minutes.
Report turnaround
The report is handed over the same day.
Equipment
Hologic Discovery
When is this exam needed?
- Monitoring athletic training: changes in muscle mass and fat mass.
- Nutritional assessment and follow-up.
- Monitoring a diet, to find out whether weight loss comes from fat or from muscle.
- Measurement of visceral fat.
How the exam is done
At reception, no prescription is required. In the changing room, you remove jewelry, belt and clothing that contains metal.
You lie on your back, arms along your body, and stay still while the arm of the machine slowly scans your whole body, from head to toe, without touching you. You breathe normally. The exam is painless and requires no injection.
The report details fat mass, lean mass and bone mass, region by region (arms, legs, trunk), as well as visceral fat. Visceral fat is often associated with excess fat in the liver (steatosis), which an abdominal ultrasound can look for. The report is handed to you the same day. To track changes, repeat the exam under the same conditions: no large meal just before, an empty bladder and no intense exercise on the same day.
Preparation
- No large meal just before the exam.
- Empty your bladder just before entering the room.
- No intense exercise on the day of the exam.
- Do not take calcium supplements in the 24 hours before.
- If you have had an exam with a contrast agent (barium, iodine) or a scintigraphy, wait 7 days.
Fasting
No strict fasting: just avoid a large meal right before the exam, so that measurements are comparable from one exam to the next.
Contrast injection
Nothing is injected.
Contraindications and precautions
- Current or possible pregnancy: the body scan is postponed.
- Contrast agent (barium, iodine) or scintigraphy less than 7 days ago: the body scan is rescheduled.
- Weight over 150 kg: the table does not allow it, let us know before booking.
- Prosthesis or metal hardware in the body: tell us, the area concerned is taken into account when reading the results.
Documents to bring
- Identity document
- Prescription if you have one; for a child, it is mandatory
- Report from a previous body scan, for comparison
Price and insurance coverage
The body scan is generally not covered by insurance.
No prices are shown on this site: Kenza gives you the exact price on WhatsApp, along with the coverage procedure for your situation.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a prescription?
No, for adults, the body scan can be done without a prescription, at your request. For children, the exam is done only with a medical prescription.
What does the body scan measure?
Fat mass, lean mass, bone mass and visceral fat, with details by body region.
Why avoid exercise and a large meal beforehand?
They slightly change the measurements. By keeping the same conditions for each exam, the results stay comparable from one time to the next.
What is the difference with a bone density scan?
It is the same technique, but the body scan studies the whole body and its composition, while the bone density scan measures the density of the bones of the spine and hip to look for osteoporosis.
How often should it be repeated?
At the pace set with your doctor, your coach or your nutritionist. Preferably repeat it on the same machine, under the same conditions.
Is the body scan covered by insurance?
The body scan is generally not covered by insurance.