- DEXA FAQ's
You can eat and drink as per normal.
DEXA used a very low dose X-ray and you will only be exposed to 1-4 µSv (microsieverts).
This is less radiation than you will experience on a flight from Sydney to Brisbane. For more detailed information regarding DEXA and radiation please click here.
The time of day will not make a difference to your scan results. Women will also not be affected by their cycle. If you do however wish to reduce your Biological Variability, have a read of the ‘How to I make my Scan as accurate as possible?’ tab below.
Biological variability is the natural variability due to physiologic differences among people over time. In order to increase the accuracy of your DEXA scan, it is best to try and reduce/control your biological variability as much as possible. This way you can compare apples with apples.
How do you do this?
- Have your scan at the same time of day each time (IMPORTANT)
- Mirror your food intake (try and eat the same meal/time) each time you are scanned
- Mirror your exercise (try and do the same exercise-type/time) or no exercise each time you are scanned
- Try and wear the same clothes to each scan
- Try not drink more than 1L of water immediately prior to scan
- If you can, try to go the toilet prior to scan (number 1’s)
If you undertake and standardise all the above, your scan will be more accurate.
One more important element to think about is for those on low carb diets. Low carb diets can effect glycogen storage in your muscles and liver. This will reflect in your DEXA results as a decrease in muscle mass due to the depletion of glycogen in your muscles. Our recommendation is to try and have your scan in the same dietary condition each time as well.
For maximum accuracy, please wear clothing without metal e.g. zippers or buckles. Ideally this means no bra under wires or zippers. Gym and exercise clothes are ideal! If you have metal implants or other metal devices that you cannot remove, don’t worry, The DEXA will work just fine, but you may have slightly higher bone density readings from the scanner interpreting the metal as bone.
DEXA uses a hydration constant of 73% in its calculations. This means that whenever an individual is scanned it sees them with a hydration status of 73%. Hydration status can range from 65-80% depending on the situation – dehydration to hyponatremia (too much water). When you get up in the morning after an overnight fast, voiding and no exercise (or post training) you will be less hydrated than 73% (where the DEXA sees you). As such, your total mass (weight) will be less on the scales compared to the DEXA. This is why it’s important not to compare scale weight with DEXA weight as hydration status may never be exactly the same. The argument for using the DEXA is that it sees you with the same hydration status every time you are scanned which is why it’s used in all international research work when measuring body composition (and changes over time following an intervention – diet and/or exercise).
MOBILE LABS: Body composition scans completed in one of our mobile laboratories will not be claimable through your private health fund.
SYDNEY: You may be able to claim the consult portion of your extended DEXA scan consultation with your private health fund depending on your individual level of cover. Please check with your provider if you are covered for an ‘EP Consult’. As all appointments are booked and paid for online, we will issue you a health fund receipt after your appointment so you can lodge a claim with your fund.
Please note a $99 MeasureUp single scan contains no consult portion.
In most cases, you will not be able to claim through Medicare for a Body Composition scan. If you are having a Bone Mineral Density scan to assess your risk of Osteoporosis you may be eligible for a rebate and will need to discuss this with your Doctor
If there is a possibility that you are pregnant or you are pregnant, we will unfortunately not be able to peform a DEXA scan on you. As there have been no clinical studies into the effects of having a DEXA scan whilst pregnant, we cannot with 100% certainty say that there are no effects on an unborn baby and as such, we will not put anybody at risk.
Having a scan while breastfeeding will not have any adverse effects.
You do not require a referral for a Body Composition scan in ACT, NSW & QLD.
You do require a referral for a Body Composition scan in SA, TAS, VIC & WA.
In some cases, your Doctor may also refer you as part of an Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) Plan.
Yes, we do. All payments are made online when you book your scan. We accept Visa, MasterCard and AMEX.
Sydney HQ: There are two car parking stations close by.
Sydney Pitt St HQ clinic: Monday – Friday from 8:30am to 5:15pm
If you wish to be scanned on the weekend, please check our Mobile Lab locations here
Our Total Body DEXA Scan can give you a good estimate of your bone mineral density however the report cannot be used for diagnostic purposes. Should you require a bone density test that can be used for diagnostic purposes, you will be required to obtain a doctors referral and book a Bone density scan with us.
No our scan packs do not include a long consult. We always recommend that if you have not had a DEXA scan before to book the In Depth Consult for your first appointment in order to get accustomed to all of the data contained within your DEXA report and how it can help you gain more information about your body. For any subsequent appointments you can then book a Single MeasureUp DEXA Scan or any of the scan packs if you wish to take advantage of the savings.
RMR TESTING FAQ's
Eating prior to your test will increase metabolism and provide you with an erroneous result. We recommend not eating and preferrably no drinking for 5 hours prior to your RMR test.
Exercise prior to your test will raise metabolism and provide you with an erroneous result. Refer to the pre-test guidelines for further information on what exercise should be avoided prior to your test.
Individuals will react differently to dietary changes which is why a true measurement of RMR is so valuable. If you have reduced calories don’t be surprised if your RMR also goes down. This may or may not be in conjunction with weight loss. It is critical to measure those changes periodically to make the necessary adjustments in diet and exercise to keep on track and avoid a plateau.
Predictive formulas have been used for many years because an actual measurement through Indirect Calorimetry has not been practical. While predictions might hold their ground statistically, when applied to individuals, they can be up to ± 200Kcal/day apart from an actual measure of RMR.
Often after significant weight (fat) loss RMR is depressed even lower than expected relative to the change in body composition. The reason for this is due to the individual losing both lean mass and fat mass. Identifying this via a post-diet DEXA and RMR measurement is a vital step that is key to long term fat loss success.
Resting Metabolic Rate declines slightly as individuals age. The cause is not clear. One reason may be due in part to a slowed metabolic rate of individual organs, such as the brain, liver, heart, and kidneys. These organs alone account for 60% of RMR in adults. Another cause may be a due to a decline in physical activity and a sedentary lifestyle that leads to a decrease in lean mass.
Studies show a considerable variation in the individual metabolic response to pregnancy, and thus the additional energy required to support a pregnancy.
As with any chemical ingested, rate of absorption, tolerance, and dosage relative to body weight all factor in to a person’s unique response. Under controlled conditions, studies suggest that caffeine can raise RMR at a rate relative to the dose ingested: around a 4% increase with 100 mg of caffeine. Please refrain from ingesting caffeine prior to any RMR test
If you are having the RMR Test + DEXA + Consult we recommend for maximum accuracy, please wear clothing without metal e.g. zippers or buckles. Ideally this means no bra under wires or zippers. Gym and exercise clothes are ideal! If you have metal implants or other metal devices that you cannot remove, don’t worry, The DEXA will work just fine, but you may have slightly higher bone density readings from the scanner interpreting the metal as bone.
If you are simply having the RMR Test then something comfortable so you can stay relaxed for the durating of the test.
RMR pre-test guidelines;
- At least 5 hours of fasting prior to the test (no/limited water intake either ideally)
- No intense exercise (greater than 1 hour) 24 hours before the test
- No caffeine, tobacco or stimulating drinks for at least 5 hours prior to the test
- Continue medications as usual — be prepared to discuss before your test begins
Only the RMR Test + DEXA + Consult product is able to be claimed through your private health care (depending on your level of cover). The item number is 202. We recommend you check your individual level of cover with your health insurance provider.
No, you do not need a doctors referral for an RMR test.
Yes, we do. All payments are made online when you book your scan. We accept Visa, MasterCard and AMEX.
Sydney HQ: There are two car parking stations close by.