DXA is a medical imaging technique that uses two X-ray beams to measure the density of bone, fat, and lean tissue in the body. It is considered one of the most accurate and reliable methods for assessing body composition, including body fat percentage.
Understanding your body composition is crucial for optimizing health and fitness. A DXA (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) scan provides a precise analysis of your body's primary components: fat, muscle, and bone*.
DEXA Machine
“Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry” — referred to as DEXA — offers highly detailed imaging capabilities. With it, healthcare professionals can measure bone density, muscle, and body fat.
DEXA is the most accurate method of body fat measurement, but one downside is that it's not readily available in every geographic area, and it can be relatively expensive compared to other methods.
The body fat percentage needed to see your pack of abdominal muscles falls somewhere around 14 to 20% for women and 6 to 13% for men. However, the ideal body fat percentage for abs can look slightly different per person, depending on how you carry weight, where you typically store fat, and your fitness routine.
If your BMI is: under 18.5kg/m2 – you are considered underweight and possibly malnourished. 18.5 to 24.9kg/m2 – you are within a healthy weight range for young and middle-aged adults. 25.0 to 29.9kg/m2– you are considered overweight.
Studies have shown that you can help trim visceral fat or prevent its growth with both aerobic activity (such as brisk walking) and strength training (exercising with weights). Spot exercises, such as sit-ups, can tighten abdominal muscles but won't get at visceral fat. Exercise can also help keep fat from coming back.
According to Dr. Cerna, for some people, BMI can be skewed. “If you have a lot of muscle mass, such as in athletes and bodybuilders, your BMI will be overestimated. In seniors and people with less muscle mass, BMI may be underestimated,” said Dr.
Skinfold calipers measure fat underneath the skin (subcutaneous fat) at certain places on your body. These are known as 'skinfold measurements' and you can use them to estimate your percentage of body fat.
A healthy body fat range is 25-31% for women and 18-24% for men; this doesn't consider age or athletic status.” To determine if you are a healthy weight, Edgemon suggests looking at both BMI and body fat percentage.
DEXA Plus scanners are considered the gold standard in total body composition assessment for optimizing health and human performance.
Not only does a DEXA scan provide fast results, but it is also widely accepted as the gold standard for obtaining a comprehensive analysis of body composition.
Is A DEXA scan accurate for body fat? Yes! For body fat, or body composition, the standard error of the measurement for DXA is 2.5-3.5% while the error for other common methods (skinfolds, underwater weighing, air displacement or bioelectrical impedance) is between 3.5-6%.
The best way to reduce visceral fat is through losing weight (if you are above a healthy weight range) and maintaining a healthy diet. Regular exercise is especially effective in reducing visceral fat and preventing it from coming back.
To remove the pannus, a doctor may recommend a panniculectomy. This procedure helps remove the excess skin and fat deposits that comprise the pannus. A person may want to combine a panniculectomy with a tummy tuck.
Earlier research has found that the most desired BMIs are approximately 18-20, considerably below the average or typical values of young women in well-fed populations.
While it's a myth that muscle weighs more than fat—after all, a pound is a pound—it is denser, which means it takes up less space in the body. This may explain why you look slimmer but the scale hasn't budged. Water weight could also be a factor, according to strength and conditioning coach Brandon Mentore.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provide the following ranges for BMI values for adults: Underweight: Less than 18.5. Recommended: 18.6 to 24.9. Overweight: 25.0 to 29.9.
🤔From 30% To 15% Body Fat | How Much Time? 🔑Short answer: Between 20-40 weeks (5 to 10 months) for most people that fully commit. The exact timeframe depends on your goals and past experiences with fat loss. If you just want to maintain muscle, you can push a bit harder and realistically get it done in 5-6 months.
By maintaining a healthy diet and keeping up with regular exercise, you can burn calories and shed the subcutaneous fat your body is storing. If you suspect you may have too much subcutaneous fat, talk to your healthcare provider.
Underneath 20% would be the point you would no longer be able to visually see extra fat around the hip region. To give a exact percentage would be hard as everyone is different and we all store fat differently. Somewhere between 15 and 20 % depending on the person will ensure love handles are not visible in men.