Total body fat
See your total fat mass and body-fat percentage as part of your overall composition.
Fort Collins body composition testing
DEXASee what your
weight can’t.
A DEXA body composition assessment gives you a precise baseline for fat, lean mass and distribution, so your next decision can be based on more than a single number.
Lock in 30% offA more useful starting point
Body weight is only one part of the picture.
A scale can show change, but it cannot show what changed. A DEXA scan separates the components that make up your weight, including fat mass, lean mass and bone mineral content. It also makes the distribution of those measurements visible across different regions of the body.
That distinction matters when your goals are personal. You may be building strength, adjusting nutrition, returning to activity, monitoring a training block or simply looking for a clearer baseline. A body composition assessment gives you information you can revisit instead of relying on guesswork or a one-dimensional progress marker.
The Body Metric Lab makes the experience straightforward. You receive an educational assessment, a clear report and practical context for your next conversation. It is not a diagnosis and it does not replace care from your physician.
What a DEXA scan can show
Measurements you can put to work.
Each result gives a different view of your current baseline. Taken together, they make it easier to focus on the changes that matter to you.
Lean mass
Understand the non-fat, non-bone portion of your body composition and how it is distributed.
Regional detail
Review measurements across areas such as the arms, legs and trunk rather than relying only on a whole-body average.
Bone mineral content
See bone mineral content as part of the complete composition picture. This assessment is educational and is not a diagnostic bone-density exam.
Visceral fat estimate
Review an estimate of fat around the abdominal organs in the context of your wider baseline and healthcare conversations.
A repeatable baseline
Use consistent repeat assessments to follow trends over time when that supports your goals.
What to expect
Four quiet minutes. A fuller view.
Your scan is simple and noninvasive. You will lie comfortably on the DEXA table while the scanning arm moves over you. The scan itself takes about four minutes.
Before your visit, avoid strenuous exercise for 12 hours. Eat and drink normally, arrive hydrated and choose metal-free clothing. If you may be pregnant or have recently had contrast imaging, let the team know before your appointment.
Afterward, your report organizes the information in a way you can explore. You can keep the results as a personal baseline, use them to guide questions for a qualified professional or compare future measurements under similar conditions.
Review full preparation guidance →
Use the information well
Numbers are most helpful in context.
A single assessment is a snapshot, not a verdict. Daily hydration, food intake, training, sleep and normal biological variation can all affect how you feel from one week to the next. Your DEXA result is most useful when you look at it alongside your own goals, your recent routine and the changes you are making.
Results become more practical when you decide in advance what you want to learn. You may want to establish a starting point before changing a routine, understand a plateau without jumping to conclusions or keep a more complete record of progress. Bringing that question to the appointment can make the report easier to use afterward, and helps you separate what is measurable from what needs a broader personal or clinical conversation.
For repeat testing, comparable conditions help make the trend easier to interpret. Following the same preparation guidance, choosing a consistent interval and keeping notes on major training or nutrition changes can help you make a fairer comparison over time.
If a result raises a medical question, bring it to your physician or another qualified healthcare professional. The lab’s role is to make objective measurements easier to understand and discuss, not to diagnose disease or direct medical treatment.
Is it the right assessment for you?
Choose a baseline that fits your question.
Body composition testing can be useful when you want context behind a change in weight, are beginning a new training or nutrition routine, or prefer a more complete way to track progress. It can also be a helpful starting point when a goal feels vague and you want clear, objective information before deciding what to focus on.
For someone focused on strength or performance, regional lean-mass information can add useful context to what training feels like day to day. For someone whose goal is weight management, the value may be seeing that a body-weight change does not tell the whole story. For someone returning to activity after a long break, the assessment can simply provide a starting point that is more specific than a scale.
There is no universally “right” result. Measurements are most useful when they help you ask better questions, choose a practical next step and recognize meaningful changes in your own situation. The best use of your report is the one that supports a realistic, sustainable goal rather than chasing a number in isolation.
A DEXA scan is one part of the broader picture. If your question is about aerobic capacity, resting energy use or physical capability, a VO₂ Max test, RMR assessment or Capability Baseline may offer another useful perspective. You do not need to do everything at once. Start with the measurement most relevant to your current goal.
Common questions
Clear answers before you book.
What does a body composition test measure?+
The DEXA assessment measures total and regional body fat, lean mass and bone mineral content. It can also provide an estimate of visceral fat. These measurements offer more context than body weight alone.
How long does body composition testing take?+
The DEXA scan itself takes about four minutes. Plan a little extra time to get settled and review what happens next.
Do I need to prepare for a DEXA body composition scan?+
Avoid strenuous exercise for 12 hours, arrive hydrated and wear metal-free clothing. Let the team know about possible pregnancy or recent contrast imaging before your appointment.
Is body composition testing medical care?+
No. The Body Metric Lab provides educational, non-diagnostic assessments that do not replace medical care. You can share your results with a physician or another qualified professional when that is useful.
Start with the question you want your baseline to answer, then give yourself room to use the information thoughtfully.