Body Composition Scan

A body composition DEXA scan shows you what your weight is actually made of – not just a single number on the scales.

It can show:

• Total body fat percentage and how it compares with typical ranges for your age and sex
• Where your fat is stored (for example, more around your abdomen vs your hips and legs)
• Visceral fat (deep belly fat), which is more strongly linked to conditions like type 2 diabetes and heart disease
• Lean mass and muscle distribution in your arms, legs and trunk
• Bone mineral content, which contributes to strength, performance and overall health

As the latest key component of a full-body MOT private health check, a DEXA body composition scan provides an objective snapshot of your metabolic health, helping identify risks such as excess visceral fat, low muscle mass, or reduced bone density before they lead to conditions like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or osteoporosis.

GLP-1 medications don’t just change your weight – they change what you’re losing. A DEXA body composition scan helps you see how much of your weight loss is fat and how much is muscle, which you can’t tell from the scales or BMI alone.

A DEXA scan can:

• Measure fat loss vs muscle loss – showing whether your treatment plan is preserving lean muscle while you lose fat
• Track visceral (deep belly) fat – the type most strongly linked with diabetes and heart disease
• Show changes in muscle distribution – in your arms, legs and trunk, helping you spot unwanted muscle loss early
• Support smarter nutrition and training – your results can guide you (and your clinician or coach) to adjust protein intake, strength training and overall plan
• Monitor longer-term health – including bone and muscle health over time, especially if you’re losing weight quickly

In short, if you’re starting Mounjaro, Wegovy or Ozempic, a DEXA body composition scan gives you a clear, scientific way to check that you’re losing the right kind of weight.

All scans are carried out by trained radiographers at 3Beam

Diagnostic Imaging Centre, at 86 Harley Street, London, WIG 7HP

Most people don’t need DEXA scans very often. As a general guide, we recommend a minimum gap of 12 weeks between scans.

For most people – especially if you’re not on a very intensive fat-loss or training programme – every year is ideal. This gives your body enough time to change in a meaningful way, and helps you see whether your nutrition and exercise plan is both effective and sustainable.