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Our Services: Body Fat Analysis

Information on Weight and Body Fat Analysis

According to national statistics, approximately two of every three U.S. adults are overweight, i.e. “overfat.” This equates roughly to over 97 million Americans. Not surprisingly, about one of every three children is also overweight. This has become a national epidemic. Being overweight is associated with increased disease risk such as; hypertension, elevated cholesterol, type II diabetes mellitus, heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis and cancer. Many of these diseases would be controlled and / or prevented by taking steps to reduce obesity and focus on weight management. By measuring a persons body fat, a clearer picture can be established as to disease risk and healthfulness.

Weight, by itself, is not a clear indicator of disease risk. Very muscular individuals will weigh more but have less body fat than an individual who may weigh the same but not be as muscular. This is because weight does not distinguish between lean body mass (muscle) and fat. Too much fat increases a person’s risk of disease. This is why measuring body fat is so important.

An accurate and reproducible method of measuring body fat is called DEXA body fat analysis. DEXA stands for Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry. Compared to other methods currently available, DEXA is the most reliable instrument to measure percent body fat. DEXA takes a measurement of the entire body and breaks the body into three density components: fat, muscle and bone. An accurate measure of body fat is then given as a percentage of total body mass based on these three components.

At Arthritis Orthopedic and Sports Medical Center, we have a DEXA machine that will accurately determine body composition and body fat percentage. The test is quick – about 10 minutes of lying still – safe, and accurate. It can be used for all ages, from children to the elderly. If you should have questions, please ask the staff for more details.

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