DEXA scans for body composition: what you get for the money

DEXA, or DXA, stands for dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. It was built to measure bone density, and the same machines can map the whole body into fat, lean tissue and bone. That is why it is often called the gold standard for body composition.

What it measures

CHOICE, the consumer group, explains that DEXA does more than give a body-fat percentage: it shows where the fat is. That matters most for visceral fat, the fat stored around the organs inside the abdomen, which is linked to type 2 diabetes and heart disease and is hard to judge from the outside.

What it costs

CHOICE booked a session at a large clinic in the Sydney CBD and paid $160 for 30 minutes: the scan and a review afterwards with an accredited exercise physiologist. Its reporter found operators offering scans in gyms and clinics and through personal trainers, and noted that the value lies in how well the results are explained.

Yes, but

A DEXA scan uses a small dose of ionising radiation, so it is not something to repeat every few weeks. A scan is a snapshot; it cannot tell you why your numbers are what they are.

When to talk to your GP

If you want a bone-density scan for osteoporosis risk, your GP can tell you whether you qualify for one through Medicare, which is a different referral from a body-composition scan.

Sources

1. Do you need a DEXA scan? CHOICE

Checked 3 October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us via the about page.

General information, not medical advice. Check with your GP first, especially if you are pregnant, have a heart condition or take medication.