How to find you body’s composition with great accuracy.
DEXA is a simple, very low radiation X-ray that measures three body tissues; muscle, bone and fat. Each of these tissues has a different density and this allows the X-rays the DEXA uses to give the muscle, bone and fat a mass (in grams) as the rays pass through the different tissues.
“The most important aspect of DEXA is that users can measure ‘true’ change in fat and lean muscle mass,” says Dr Jarrod Meerkin, chief operating officer at MeasureUp, which offers DEXA scans at its Sydney clinic, as well as via a mobile service. “This allows you to really hone your programs to reach your optimal composition – you know what’s measured by DEXA to be a true reflection of your diet or exercise program.
“Change over time is an undervalued commodity. This is why AFL and NRL athletes have scans 3-4 times per year. It allows their performance staff to review diet and training regimens and take the guesswork out of what works and what doesn’t.
“The same use of DEXA can be applied to any fitness level. Why train 4-5 days a week and guess at the result? If a program isn’t working, you can see that, and change it.” Find out more here: measureup.com.au ■