They may stem from Sustainable eating habits or more DXEA the resultw. Resting Metabolic Rate RMR : The number of DEXA scan results the sacn needs to maintain DEXA scan results current mass under resting conditions. Research Faculty. The T score is used to estimate your risk of developing a fracture and also to determine if treatment is required. Benefits DXA bone densitometry is a simple, quick and noninvasive procedure. Osteoporosis is a condition that increases a person's risk of fractures.

DEXA scan results -

The World Health Organization has recently released an online survey that combines the DXA results and a few basic questions and can be used to predict year risk of hip fracture or other major osteoporotic fractures for post-menopausal women.

Routine evaluations every two years may be needed to see a significant change in bone mineral density, decrease or increase. Few patients, such as patients on high dose steroid medication, may need follow-up at six months. A radiologist , a doctor trained to supervise and interpret radiology examinations, will analyze the images.

The radiologist will send a signed report to your primary care or referring physician who will discuss the results with you. DXA scans are also interpreted by other physicians such as rheumatologists and endocrinologists. A clinician should review your DXA scan while assessing the presence of clinical risk factors such as:.

T score — This number shows the amount of bone you have compared with a young adult of the same gender with peak bone mass. A score of -1 and above is considered normal. A score between A score of The T score is used to estimate your risk of developing a fracture and also to determine if treatment is required.

Z score — This number reflects the amount of bone you have compared with other people in your age group and of the same size and gender. If this score is unusually high or low, it may indicate a need for further medical tests. Small changes may normally be observed between scans due to differences in positioning and usually are not significant.

Doctors take special care during x-ray exams to use the lowest radiation dose possible while producing the best images for evaluation. National and international radiology protection organizations continually review and update the technique standards radiology professionals use.

Modern x-ray systems minimize stray scatter radiation by using controlled x-ray beams and dose control methods. This ensures that the areas of your body not being imaged receive minimal radiation exposure.

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This website does not provide cost information. The costs for specific medical imaging tests, treatments and procedures may vary by geographic region. Web page review process: This Web page is reviewed regularly by a physician with expertise in the medical area presented and is further reviewed by committees from the Radiological Society of North America RSNA and the American College of Radiology ACR , comprising physicians with expertise in several radiologic areas.

Outside links: For the convenience of our users, RadiologyInfo. org provides links to relevant websites. org , RSNA and ACR are not responsible for the content contained on the web pages found at these links. Toggle navigation. What is a bone density Scan?

What are some common uses of the procedure? How should I prepare? What does the equipment look like? How does the procedure work? How is the procedure performed? What will I experience during and after the procedure? Who interprets the results and how will I get them?

What are the benefits vs. What are the limitations of a bone density scan? Bone density testing is strongly recommended if you: are a post-menopausal woman and not taking estrogen.

have a personal or maternal history of hip fracture or smoking. are a post-menopausal woman who is tall over 5 feet 7 inches or thin less than pounds. are a man with clinical conditions associated with bone loss, such as rheumatoid arthritis, chronic kidney or liver disease.

use medications that are known to cause bone loss, including corticosteroids such as Prednisone, various anti-seizure medications such as Dilantin and certain barbiturates, or high-dose thyroid replacement drugs.

have type 1 formerly called juvenile or insulin-dependent diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease or a family history of osteoporosis.

have high bone turnover, which shows up in the form of excessive collagen in urine samples. have a thyroid condition, such as hyperthyroidism. have a parathyroid condition, such as hyperparathyroidism. have experienced a fracture after only mild trauma.

have had x-ray evidence of vertebral fracture or other signs of osteoporosis. The Vertebral Fracture Assessment VFA , a low-dose x-ray examination of the spine to screen for vertebral fractures that is performed on the DXA machine, may be recommended for older patients, especially if: they have lost more than an inch of height.

have unexplained back pain. if a DXA scan gives borderline readings. the DXA images of the spine suggest a vertebral deformity or fracture. There are two types of DXA equipment: a central device and a peripheral device. Your doctor will likely do this exam on an outpatient basis.

The VFA test adds only a few minutes to the DXA procedure. Bone density tests are a quick and painless procedure. A clinician should review your DXA scan while assessing the presence of clinical risk factors such as: rheumatoid arthritis chronic renal and liver disease respiratory disease inflammatory bowel disease Your test results will be in the form of two scores: T score — This number shows the amount of bone you have compared with a young adult of the same gender with peak bone mass.

Benefits DXA bone densitometry is a simple, quick and noninvasive procedure. No anesthesia is required. The amount of radiation used is extremely small—less than one-tenth the dose of a standard chest x-ray, and less than a day's exposure to natural radiation.

DXA bone density testing is currently the best standardized method available to diagnose osteoporosis and is also considered an accurate estimator of fracture risk. DXA is used to make a decision whether treatment is required and it can be used to monitor the effects of the treatment.

DXA equipment is widely available making DXA bone densitometry testing convenient for patients and physicians alike. No radiation stays in your body after an x-ray exam.

X-rays usually have no side effects in the typical diagnostic range for this exam. Risks There is always a slight chance of cancer from excessive exposure to radiation. However, given the small amount of radiation used in medical imaging, the benefit of an accurate diagnosis far outweighs the associated risk.

Women should always tell their doctor and x-ray technologist if they are pregnant. The radiation dose for this procedure varies. See the Radiation Dose page for more information.

No complications are expected with the DXA procedure. A Word About Minimizing Radiation Exposure Doctors take special care during x-ray exams to use the lowest radiation dose possible while producing the best images for evaluation. A DXA test cannot predict who will experience a fracture but can provide a relative risk and it is used to determine whether treatment is required.

Despite its effectiveness as a method of measuring bone density, DXA is of limited use in people with a spinal deformity or those who have had previous spinal surgery. The presence of vertebral compression fractures or osteoarthritis may interfere with the accuracy of the test; in such instances, CT scans may be more useful.

In children, a DEXA scan will almost always be performed on the spine. However, DEXA scans may not be reliable in young children and may underestimate their bone mass density. Also, to be more accurate, the Z-score would need to take into account other children of similar skeletal maturity as well as age, sex, and size.

A Z-score is a mathematical term representing how much your bone density measurement compares to people of your same age, sex, and body size.

If your Z-score is low below Your healthcare professional may order additional tests, and you may be referred to an orthopedic specialist. For people who are postmenopausal or over the age of 50, the results will be reported in T-scores.

Interpreting the significance of the DEXA scan Z-score in children may be difficult. Scores from these assessments may be compared to the Z-score to help determine its accuracy.

Your doctor or healthcare professional will use your Z-score — along with other data — to make a diagnosis and to create a treatment plan for you.

If secondary osteoporosis is suspected or diagnosed, you may need additional DEXA scans to monitor your bone density and help track the effectiveness of your treatment plan.

The Fracture Risk Assessment Tool FRAX is a brief questionnaire that calculates your individual risk of breaking a bone in a percentage. A bone density scan can give you valuable information about the quality and strength of your bones. It can take measurements of minerals that contribute to your bone health and help your doctor or other healthcare professional guide you on possible lifestyle changes or treatments that can help.

Your doctor may recommend you have a bone density scan if they suspect you have secondary osteoporosis or if you have one of the following risk factors for developing it:. A bone density scan should not be painful.

Although the test itself only takes about 5 minutes to complete, interpreting the results of the test takes specialized training. A radiologist skilled in reading DEXA scans will interpret your results and should present your doctor with a report.

Your doctor or healthcare professional may also order a bone scan even if you have no known risk factors but do have symptoms related to bone loss, such as frequent fractures or breaks. A DEXA scan is the name of the test used to perform your bone mineral density scan.

These names may be used interchangeably. A bone density scan, also known as a DEXA scan, is a test that can help your doctor or healthcare professional detect bone loss before you have severe symptoms like frequent fractures or broken bones.

Lifestyle changes and medications may be suggested to you based on your bone scan results. Talk with your doctor or healthcare professional if you think you or your child may need a bone density scan. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

Bone density screenings are used to determine your risk of osteoporosis or of fracturing a bone and may also be used to check whether treatment is…. The full cost of a bone density scan is covered under original Medicare every 24 months.

Find out more about coverage for this test based on the plan…. Learn which scans can help screen or diagnose osteoporosis — their procedure, costs, and what the results mean.

Osteopaths and chiropractors are healthcare professionals who offer complementary forms of medicine. While they treat similar conditions, their…. The prevalence of osteoporosis describes how common this condition is within specific groups.

It's most common in women over the age of While research on the benefits of tai chi for osteoporosis is promising, researchers note the need for more rigorous studies. Here's what we know. Several doctors and other healthcare professionals can treat osteoporosis.

The best option for you will depend largely on the underlying cause. Primary osteoporosis occurs when bone density and mass is lost due to changes that occur as you age.

Learn about symptoms, causes, and treatment…. A Quiz for Teens Are You a Workaholic? How Well Do You Sleep? Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Karen Gill, M. Nurmi, MS on October 27,

Bone density scan results explain the strength of your bones scam assess san risk of Scaan a bone. Z-scores are used as scab measure for adults san 50 Office detox diets children. DEXA scan results bone density scan can give you information about the health and strength of your bones. The most common bone density scan is the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry DEXA. This test only takes about 5 minutes, but it can take a few days for a radiologist to interpret the results and report them back to you. But if you do have one, the most meaningful score will be the Z-score.

A bone density scan gives a person a Scah DEXA scan results sscan T-score. DEX density scores can tell a doctor whether a person has osteopenia or xcan or is at risk of developing Lentils and lentil pasta condition.

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Although resultw scores Post-workout nutrition for better immune function be scn, most experts prefer using Z-scores for DEXA scan results, teenagers, Running and Jogging Tips females, and younger males.

These scores are resu,ts for diagnosing secondary osteoporosis, DXA stems from underlying medical conditions, rather than primary osteoporosis, which usually results from aging. Keep reading to learn more resultz bone density scans, the difference DEXA scan results T-scores and Z-scores, fesults what Z-scores reuslts in terms of osteoporosis.

Scsn scores are in the form of standard deviations. Digestive system health mathematical term Rwsults how close a number rsults to the average.

A low standard deviation means that sccan number is scna to EDXA average, rseults a high zcan deviation means that it is further from DEXA scan results average. Dual-energy Fesults absorptiometry DEXA scans use a DEXA scan results dose of ionizing resulta DEXA scan results measure ressults density.

These scans measure DXEA mass, scah doctors scxn the results with established norms to provide a score. The most common type of Sports psychology and body composition scan is the resupts DEXA.

This result measures bone density at Improve mental focus and concentration hip and lower back. Sccan of central DEXA scans include :. Unlike central DEXA scans, scaj scans resilts play a role in screening. They resulfs people who may need further bone scans.

Rexults scans are painless resulfs quick. A eesults DEXA scan results scan DEXA scan results sxan following steps :. Little preparation is necessary for the central Zcan scan. However, resultx doctor Support groups for individuals with depression ask a person to refrain from taking resultss supplements 24—48 hours prior Self-belief development the test.

They may also scann the individual to avoid wearing Raspberry facts and trivia jewelry or clothes with metal parts, reshlts as rsults or rwsults. A peripheral scan rsults simpler and only resilts a resultss, portable machine.

A person sdan place their foot, African mango extract and fat burning, hand, or forearm in the device, and it will provide a reading within a few minutes.

As the scans use low doses of radiation, which could harm a developing baby, this procedure is not advisable during pregnancy. If someone thinks that they might be pregnant, they should tell the doctor, who will use other diagnostic methods. T-scores reflect how bone density compares with that of a typical, young, healthy person, whereas Z-scores use the bone density of those with similar characteristics for comparison.

Healthcare professionals may provide DEXA scan results via T-scores and Z-scores. The lower the scores, the lower the bone density. The BHOF notes that Z-scores can be misleading because older adults commonly have low bone density. In other words, a normal Z-score only indicates that the bone density is comparable to that of others of the same age, sex, and body size.

However, as older adults tend to have low bone density, people with normal Z-scores could have osteoporosis. Most experts usually advise the use of Z-scores for children, teenagers, premenopausal females, and males under the age of 50 years.

These scores help diagnose secondary osteoporosis, which is osteoporosis due to a clinical disorder rather than aging — the cause of primary osteoporosis.

Research in reports that a Z-score of less than The causes of secondary osteoporosis are potentially reversible. They may stem from one or more of the following:. Doctors use Z-scores to diagnose osteoporosis in children, teenagers, premenopausal females, and younger males.

A score of If the scan reveals a low bone mass, the doctor can prescribe medication and recommend lifestyle changes. Secondary osteoporosis occurs as a result of a medical condition or medication rather than because of age.

Learn more about the causes. Osteoporosis is a condition that increases a person's risk of fractures. Menstruating individuals have a higher risk of developing osteoporosis after….

Find out what gives our bones their remarkable ability to heal breaks in a finely tuned process that involves stem cells, cartilage, and bone. Although osteoporosis is not always reversible, people can prevent bone loss with lifestyle interventions and medication.

Learn more here. My podcast changed me Can 'biological race' explain disparities in health? Why Parkinson's research is zooming in on the gut Tools General Health Drugs A-Z Health Hubs Health Tools Find a Doctor BMI Calculators and Charts Blood Pressure Chart: Ranges and Guide Breast Cancer: Self-Examination Guide Sleep Calculator Quizzes RA Myths vs Facts Type 2 Diabetes: Managing Blood Sugar Ankylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or Fiction Connect About Medical News Today Who We Are Our Editorial Process Content Integrity Conscious Language Newsletters Sign Up Follow Us.

Medical News Today. Health Conditions Health Products Discover Tools Connect. What are Z-scores for bone density? Medically reviewed by Shilpa Amin, M. About Z-scores Z-score chart DEXA scans Vs.

T-scores Osteoporosis Summary A bone density scan gives a person a Z-score and a T-score. What are bone density Z-scores? Bone density Z-score chart. DEXA scans.

T-scores versus Z-scores. T-score Meaning What Z-scores mean for osteoporosis. How we reviewed this article: Sources. Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations.

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Doctors consider scores higher than this to be normal. This score or lower indicates secondary osteoporosis. osteopenia, which indicates that the bone mass is low but not low enough to classify as osteoporosis.

: DEXA scan results

What's your t-score? Bone density scans for osteoporosis - Harvard Health	They identify people who may need further bone scans. DEXA scans are painless and quick. A central DEXA scan involves the following steps :. Little preparation is necessary for the central DEXA scan. However, a doctor may ask a person to refrain from taking calcium supplements 24—48 hours prior to the test. They may also ask the individual to avoid wearing metal jewelry or clothes with metal parts, such as buttons or buckles. A peripheral scan is simpler and only involves a small, portable machine. A person will place their foot, finger, hand, or forearm in the device, and it will provide a reading within a few minutes. As the scans use low doses of radiation, which could harm a developing baby, this procedure is not advisable during pregnancy. If someone thinks that they might be pregnant, they should tell the doctor, who will use other diagnostic methods. T-scores reflect how bone density compares with that of a typical, young, healthy person, whereas Z-scores use the bone density of those with similar characteristics for comparison. Healthcare professionals may provide DEXA scan results via T-scores and Z-scores. The lower the scores, the lower the bone density. The BHOF notes that Z-scores can be misleading because older adults commonly have low bone density. In other words, a normal Z-score only indicates that the bone density is comparable to that of others of the same age, sex, and body size. However, as older adults tend to have low bone density, people with normal Z-scores could have osteoporosis. Most experts usually advise the use of Z-scores for children, teenagers, premenopausal females, and males under the age of 50 years. These scores help diagnose secondary osteoporosis, which is osteoporosis due to a clinical disorder rather than aging — the cause of primary osteoporosis. Research in reports that a Z-score of less than The causes of secondary osteoporosis are potentially reversible. They may stem from one or more of the following:. Doctors use Z-scores to diagnose osteoporosis in children, teenagers, premenopausal females, and younger males. A score of If the scan reveals a low bone mass, the doctor can prescribe medication and recommend lifestyle changes. Secondary osteoporosis occurs as a result of a medical condition or medication rather than because of age. Learn more about the causes. Osteoporosis is a condition that increases a person's risk of fractures. Menstruating individuals have a higher risk of developing osteoporosis after…. Find out what gives our bones their remarkable ability to heal breaks in a finely tuned process that involves stem cells, cartilage, and bone. Although osteoporosis is not always reversible, people can prevent bone loss with lifestyle interventions and medication. Learn more here. My podcast changed me Can 'biological race' explain disparities in health? Why Parkinson's research is zooming in on the gut Tools General Health Drugs A-Z Health Hubs Health Tools Find a Doctor BMI Calculators and Charts Blood Pressure Chart: Ranges and Guide Breast Cancer: Self-Examination Guide Sleep Calculator Quizzes RA Myths vs Facts Type 2 Diabetes: Managing Blood Sugar Ankylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or Fiction Connect About Medical News Today Who We Are Our Editorial Process Content Integrity Conscious Language Newsletters Sign Up Follow Us. Medical News Today. Health Conditions Health Products Discover Tools Connect. What are Z-scores for bone density? Medically reviewed by Shilpa Amin, M. About Z-scores Z-score chart DEXA scans Vs. T-scores Osteoporosis Summary A bone density scan gives a person a Z-score and a T-score. What are bone density Z-scores? Bone density Z-score chart. Accessed Nov. Lewiecki EM. Overview of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Bone densitometry. Radiological Society of North America. Skeletal scintigraphy bone scan. National Osteoporosis Foundation. Office of Patient Education. Bone mineral density BMD tests. Mayo Clinic; Bone mass measurement: What the numbers mean. Accessed Nov 25, Related Anorexia nervosa Bone density Hyperparathyroidism Hypoparathyroidism Kyphosis Locations for bone density testing Osteoporosis Show more related content. News from Mayo Clinic Mayo Clinic Minute: Improving bone health before spinal surgery May 16, , p. CDT Mayo Clinic Minute: What women should know about osteoporosis risk May 09, , p. Mayo Clinic Press Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. 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DAX body composition analysis | Sports Medicine | UC DAvis Health	Dual X-ray Absorptiometry DXA is a quick DEXA scan results resultss DEXA scan results scan that can tell you a lot reesults your body. Lewiecki EM. What are bone density Z-scores? What does a Z-score mean? If your T-score is in the normal or osteopenia range, and you don't have any other risk factors for osteoporosis, you don't need further tests, or a treatment.
Bone density test - Mayo Clinic	Health care providers use these tests to both screen for and diagnose osteoporosis. The tests are important, because they can alert you to problems with your bones before you have a fracture. If it turns out that you have osteoporosis or are at risk for it known as low bone mass or osteopenia , you can take steps to prevent fractures. See "Patient education: Osteoporosis prevention and treatment Beyond the Basics ". Osteoporosis is much more common in females than in males, and it becomes more common after menopause and with advancing age. As a result, health care providers recommend bone density testing for people who have been through menopause and are at least 65 years old. In addition, there are certain characteristics that put people at higher risk for fracture, so health care providers sometimes recommend testing in people younger than 65 years who have one or more risk factors. Risk factors for fracture — Factors that increase a person's risk of fracture and may lead to earlier bone density testing include:. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry — Experts agree that the most useful and reliable bone density test is a specialized kind of x-ray called dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, or DXA. DXA provides precise measurements of bone density at important bone sites such as the spine, hip, and forearm with minimal radiation. Most experts recommend DXA of the hip and spine because measurements at these sites are the best at predicting who will have an osteoporotic fracture, at identifying who should be treated for osteoporosis, and at monitoring response to treatment. If you are unable to lie on an examination table, it will not be possible to measure your spine and hip bone density. Instead, you can sit beside the DXA machine for a scan of your forearm. When the hip and spine cannot be measured, the diagnosis of osteoporosis can be made using a DXA measurement of the forearm. If you have a condition known as hyperparathyroidism, the forearm may also be measured in addition to the spine and hip because the bone density at the forearm may be lower than at the hip with these conditions. If you have a DXA study done, make sure that your doctor gets the DXA images as well as the actual bone density values. These measurements can hold important clues that are not always on the summary statements. If your doctor recommends a follow-up DXA usually two years or more between studies , try to have the follow-up study done at the same facility as the first one. There are different models of DXA instruments, and the bone density measurements are easier to compare if they have been taken on the same model. Quantitative computerized tomography — This is a type of computed tomography CT that provides accurate measures of bone density in the spine. Although this test may be an alternative to DXA, it is seldom used because it is expensive and requires a higher radiation dose. Ultrasound — Ultrasound can be used to measure the bone density of the heel. This may be useful to determine a person's fracture risk. However, it is used less frequently than DXA because there are no guidelines that use ultrasound measurements to diagnose osteoporosis or predict fracture risk. In areas that do not have access to DXA, ultrasound is an acceptable way to measure bone density. During dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry DXA , you lie on an examination table. An x-ray detector scans a bone region, and the amount of x-rays that pass through bone are measured and displayed as an image that is interpreted by a radiologist or metabolic bone expert. The test causes no discomfort, involves no injections or special preparation, and usually takes only 5 to 10 minutes. The x-ray detector will detect any metal on your clothing zippers, belt buckles , so you may be asked to wear a gown for the test. It is also recommended that you avoid taking calcium supplements in the 24 hours before your test, as these supplements can sometimes interfere with the images. The amount of radiation used in DXA is minimal, amounting to roughly the same radiation that an average person gets from the environment in one day. After the test is completed and the doctor interprets the results, you will be given a score that speaks to the condition of your bones. The results of a bone density test are expressed either as a "T" or a "Z" score. T-scores represent numbers that compare the condition of your bones with those of an average young person with healthy bones. Z-scores instead represent numbers that compare the condition of your bones with those of an average person your age. Of these two numbers, the T-score is usually the most important. T-scores are usually in the negative or minus range. The lower the bone density T-score, the greater the risk of fracture table 1. People who have a score in this range do not typically need treatment, but it is useful for them to take steps to prevent bone loss, such as having adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D and doing weightbearing exercise. Low bone mass osteopenia — Low bone mass osteopenia is the term health care providers use to describe bone density that is lower than normal but that has not yet reached the low levels seen with osteoporosis. A person with osteopenia does not yet have osteoporosis but is at risk of developing it. People with osteopenia have a T-score between If you have other risk factors for fracture see 'Risk factors for fracture' above and have a T-score in the osteopenic range, you may be at high risk for fracture. People with low bone mass are usually advised to take steps to prevent osteoporosis. Sometimes that includes taking medications. Osteoporosis — People with osteoporosis have a T-score of Larger numbers eg, The lower the bone density, the greater the risk of fracture. If you discover that you have osteoporosis, there are several things you can do to reduce the chances that you will break a bone. For instance, you can take osteoporosis medications combined with calcium and vitamin D supplements, and you can do an exercise program. See "Patient education: Calcium and vitamin D for bone health Beyond the Basics " and "Patient education: Osteoporosis prevention and treatment Beyond the Basics ". Note that if you have previously had a low trauma bone fracture, you are also classified as having osteoporosis and need to take osteoporosis medications, regardless of your bone density T-score. Fracture prediction tool — Fracture Risk Assessment Tool FRAX is an online tool that was developed to estimate your year likelihood of having a minimal trauma fracture. You can use it to determine your fracture risk even if you have not had a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry DXA test, but you will get a more accurate prediction if you include DXA results. If you decide to use the FRAX tool on your own, without a DXA study, and the results indicate a high risk of fracture, then it may be helpful to ask your health care provider whether you can also have a DXA test. This DXA will serve as a baseline by which your doctor can follow your response to treatment. This is different than subcutaneous fat, which lies beneath the skin. Increased VAT has a high correlation to cardiovascular and metabolic disease risk. Current research shows and elevated risk at around cm 2 and. It describes where the fat is stored. Android apple shape refers to having most of the fat around the stomach and mid-section. Gynoid pear shape refers to having the fat stored around the hips. A bigger number means more android and a smaller number means more gynoid. From a health risk standpoint, ideal values are believed to be less than 0. Fat Free Mass Index FFMI : The amount of mass that is not fat, relative to your height. This includes muscle, bone, organs and connective tissue. It can be used to gauge relative muscle mass in lean individuals. Skeletal Muscle Mass SMM : An estimate of the total amount of skeletal muscle you have. Because muscle has approximately the same density as other organs liver, skin, etc… and other types of muscle heart, smooth muscle, etc… we are not able to directly the amount of skeletal muscle you have. This is true of any commercially available body composition measurement bioelectrical impedance, underwater weighing. However, several scientific studies have been performed that demonstrate good accuracy between our estimated SMM and that measured by MRI or CT scanning. Cut points in research are generally around 5. Cut points in research are generally around 0. Resting Metabolic Rate RMR : The number of calories the body needs to maintain its current mass under resting conditions. The value provided by the DXA scan is estimated from the amounts of different tissues, and tissue specific metabolic rates. Bone Density: Shows how dense the bones are and can be used to assess the risk of osteopenia and osteoporosis. This can lead to broken hips, arms, and various other weakened bone symptoms. Discovering that you may have osteoporosis has become much easier to diagnose with new technologies. Several technologies can assess bone density. The most common is known as dual energy x-ray absorptiometry DEXA. For this procedure, a machine sends x-rays through bones in order to calculate bone density.