Body weight and BMI are familiar ways of describing health, but they do not tell you what your body is actually made up of.
Two people can have the same weight or BMI while having very different proportions of muscle and fat. Body composition analysis looks beyond the number on the scales to provide more detailed information about fat mass, lean muscle mass and how these tissues are distributed throughout the body.
A DEXA Body Composition Analysis can provide objective measurements of body composition where the information is relevant to a clinically justified referral pathway. Oryon’s service can assess total body fat percentage, lean muscle mass, fat mass and regional fat distribution, with additional measurements such as Android/Gynoid ratio and visceral adipose tissue available where appropriate.
What is BMI?
BMI, or Body Mass Index, is a simple calculation using your height and weight.
It is commonly used as a broad population-level measure and can be helpful in identifying whether someone’s weight falls within certain ranges.
However, BMI does not distinguish between different types of body tissue.
For example, it cannot tell you:
That means BMI can provide useful context, but it does not give a complete picture of body composition.
What is body composition?
Body composition describes the different tissues that make up your body.
Rather than looking only at your total weight, a body composition assessment can provide information about:
Depending on the assessment and available measurements, DEXA may also provide information such as Android/Gynoid ratio and visceral adipose tissue.
This can be useful when understanding changes in the body is relevant to treatment, monitoring or another clinically justified programme.
Depending on the assessment and available measurements, DEXA may also provide information such as Android/Gynoid ratio and visceral adipose tissue.
This can be useful when understanding changes in the body is relevant to treatment, monitoring or another clinically justified programme.
What is a DEXA Body Composition Analysis?
DEXA stands for Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry.
The technology is widely associated with bone-density assessment, but it can also be used to assess body composition.
During a DEXA Body Composition Analysis, low-dose X-rays are used to differentiate between different types of tissue and estimate measures such as fat mass and lean mass.
At Oryon, Body Composition Analysis is provided as a controlled clinical service rather than general wellness or self-referral fitness screening. Every examination requires an appropriate referral and clinical justification before the scan can proceed.
BMI vs body composition: what is the difference?
The biggest difference is the amount of information provided.
BMI uses only height and weight.
Body composition analysis can provide more detailed information about the proportions of fat and lean tissue within the body.
For example, two people may have identical BMIs but one may have significantly more lean muscle mass while the other has a higher proportion of body fat.
Body composition therefore helps answer questions that BMI alone cannot.
Why can lean muscle mass matter?
Lean muscle mass can be important in a number of clinical and treatment pathways.
Changes in muscle mass may be relevant when monitoring:
Oryon’s clinical pathway specifically allows Body Composition Analysis where the results are expected to influence treatment, monitoring or clinical management.
Body composition and medically supervised weight management
Weight loss does not always tell the full story about what is changing within the body.
During medically supervised weight-management programmes, including treatment involving appetite-suppressant medication, clinicians may want to understand whether changes relate to fat mass, lean muscle mass or both.
Oryon’s clinical criteria allow DEXA Body Composition Analysis to be considered in these pathways where monitoring may help assess lean mass preservation, fat-mass change, nutritional impact, treatment effectiveness or potential adverse effects.
This means the purpose is not simply to see how much weight someone has lost. The information needs to have a clear clinical role in ongoing care or management.
Can DEXA Body Composition Analysis be used for sport?
In certain circumstances.
Body Composition Analysis may be appropriate for elite athletes or supervised performance programmes where a regulated healthcare professional is responsible for the programme and the results are expected to influence areas such as training, nutrition or rehabilitation.
It is not intended for general gym tracking, personal-training purposes or curiosity about fitness metrics.
Can anyone book a body composition scan?
No.
DEXA Body Composition Analysis at Oryon is a diagnostic referral service, not a general screening or self-referral service.
An appropriate referral is required, and the examination must meet Oryon’s clinical justification criteria before it can proceed. Requests for general wellness, cosmetic or self-directed fitness monitoring are not accepted under this pathway.
How often can Body Composition Analysis be repeated?
Repeat scans would not normally be performed more frequently than once every six months.
This allows sufficient time for meaningful physiological change and helps avoid unnecessary repeat exposure.
An earlier scan may sometimes be considered where there is a specific clinical reason, such as concern about rapid physiological change, muscle loss, treatment modification or adverse effects. In those circumstances, the reason must be appropriately documented and justified.
What does a DEXA Body Composition report include?
Oryon’s reporting framework may include:
This means the result is designed to be interpreted within the clinical or professionally supervised pathway for which the scan was requested.
Is a DEXA Body Composition scan the same as a bone-density scan?
No, although both use DEXA technology.
A bone-density DEXA scan is primarily used to measure bone mineral density and support the assessment of conditions such as osteoporosis.
A DEXA Body Composition Analysis is designed to measure the proportions and distribution of fat and lean tissue.
The examination type and referral pathway therefore depend on the clinical question being asked.
DEXA Body Composition Analysis at Oryon
Oryon’s DEXA Body Composition Analysis is available in Central London for £115.
Appointments take approximately 40 minutes, and reports are issued within 1 working day.
The service follows Oryon’s Diagnostic Referral pathway, and all examinations are subject to clinical justification.
If your healthcare professional believes body composition measurements may help inform your treatment or monitoring, they can refer you for assessment.
Find out more about DEXA Body Composition Analysis at Oryon.
FAQs
Is body composition more useful than BMI?
They provide different information. BMI is calculated using height and weight, whereas body composition can provide more detailed information about fat mass, lean muscle mass and tissue distribution.
What does a DEXA Body Composition scan measure?
DEXA can assess measures including total body fat percentage, lean muscle mass, fat mass and regional fat distribution. Additional measurements may be available where appropriate.
Can I self-refer for a DEXA Body Composition scan?
No. Oryon’s DEXA Body Composition Analysis requires an appropriate referral and is subject to clinical justification.
Can DEXA Body Composition Analysis be used during weight-loss treatment?
It may be considered where a responsible clinician believes measurements of lean mass, fat mass or nutritional impact will support ongoing treatment or management.
How much does DEXA Body Composition Analysis cost at Oryon?
The launch price is £115.
How long does the appointment take?
The appointment takes approximately 40 minutes.
How quickly will I receive my results?
Reports are issued within 1 working day.