Body Composition Testing
Scales can measure your total body mass but will not tell you what percentage of fat, muscle and bone adds up to your total weight. A body composition scan, on the other hand, provides a comprehensive look at the different tissues that make up the body, including lean muscle, bone, and fat. It is an accurate, non-invasive way to measure these tissues and determine where your fat is distributed and how much muscle mass you have.
Breast Center Of New England’s body composition test is performed with quick low-dose x-rays, with information analyzed by all-new software.
Body composition testing provides the following:
- Lean mass
- Fat mass
- Tissue percent fat
- Android/gynoid ratio (apple vs. pear body type)
- Visceral adipose tissue vs. subcutaneous fat – this relates to risks for cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes
- Resting metabolic rate
Who can benefit from body composition testing?
- Patients on weight loss medications, or those losing weight with new nutrition and exercise programs
- Those who are trying to assess their risks for metabolic syndrome
- Athletes looking for concrete ways to measure their performance
Body composition testing is available to all adults with an order from your caregiver. It can be combined with bone density testing (DEXA scan) to give additional information on the strength of your bones and possible risk of fracture. Call Breast Center Of New England to schedule today.