Dexa Scan - Tips for Finding and Costs

Nutrition
1

I am currently pursuing serious body comp changes. Precision nutrition (Berardi) is the cornerstone of this plan. I have made progress as I have lost around 8 inches total since late Jan (including 3 inches off waist and 2.8 inches off hips). Meanwhile, I have only lost about 8lbs of scale weight (obviously putting some on muscle in addition to losing fat).

After having 3 vastly different results from a 7pt skin fold test (the last two being 32.6% late January which seemed a little high and 14.9% done yesterday which seems too low), I am in search for information on getting a Dexa scan.

I’m in So. California (The Inland Empire for those who may be familiar). I have Kaiser and my PCP said he wouldn’t order a Dexa scan because I was too young. Apparently, either he or the HMO believes the scan is only useful/worthwhile for assessing bone density in the elderly. If someone with Kaiser has had any success getting a dexa scan for body comp purposes, I’d like to know.

With no luck on my first attempt with Kaiser, I called Loma Linda University with the intention of simply finding out the cost and paying out of pocket. However, they required a doctor’s visit ($125-$224) and referral before discussing a Dexa. So, I would need to pay for a doctor’s visit plus the dexa scan (unknown cost).

I called another facility (grove diagnostic) and they did not mention needing a referral, but the cost was $225.00. I have no idea if this is a good price.

So, I would like to hear from others who have had dexa scans done (especially if you are in So. Cal and with Kaiser).

What was needed to get one done and how much did it cost?

If in So. California, I’d appreciate any facility recommendations. I don’t mind driving a bit as I don’t plan on doing this very often.

Thanks!

2

[quote]rsailor wrote:
I am currently pursuing serious body comp changes. Precision nutrition (Berardi) is the cornerstone of this plan. I have made progress as I have lost around 8 inches total since late Jan (including 3 inches off waist and 2.8 inches off hips). Meanwhile, I have only lost about 8lbs of scale weight (obviously putting some on muscle in addition to losing fat).

After having 3 vastly different results from a 7pt skin fold test (the last two being 32.6% late January which seemed a little high and 14.9% done yesterday which seems too low), I am in search for information on getting a Dexa scan.

I’m in So. California (The Inland Empire for those who may be familiar). I have Kaiser and my PCP said he wouldn’t order a Dexa scan because I was too young. Apparently, either he or the HMO believes the scan is only useful/worthwhile for assessing bone density in the elderly. If someone with Kaiser has had any success getting a dexa scan for body comp purposes, I’d like to know.

With no luck on my first attempt with Kaiser, I called Loma Linda University with the intention of simply finding out the cost and paying out of pocket. However, they required a doctor’s visit ($125-$224) and referral before discussing a Dexa. So, I would need to pay for a doctor’s visit plus the dexa scan (unknown cost).

I called another facility (grove diagnostic) and they did not mention needing a referral, but the cost was $225.00. I have no idea if this is a good price.

So, I would like to hear from others who have had dexa scans done (especially if you are in So. Cal and with Kaiser).

What was needed to get one done and how much did it cost?

If in So. California, I’d appreciate any facility recommendations. I don’t mind driving a bit as I don’t plan on doing this very often.

Thanks![/quote]

How is a DEXA scan going to help you?

The results will not give an indication of your progress if you haven’t undergone a similar scan previously.

It’s nice to have objective measurements, but it’s really not needed in most cases if you’re training to look better.

3

I dont understand why you are going to such lengths to determine your BF%. You seem to be making great progress, so who cares what the number says?

Yeah, it would be nice to know the true number, but I dont think I would let it bother me this much.

Here are some things I would do, if it really matters to you:

  1. Find someone experience to pinch you. Now, it doesnt really matter what the number comes out to be, but what matters is that you continue to go back to the same person (say every 4 weeks), and have them perform another skin fold. Use the difference in the two to judge progress. The more data points you get, the clearer it will become on how well (or not so well) you are doing.

  2. Pick 1 day in the week, and weigh yourself that morning after using the restroom, before eating. Scale weight changes so much that it actually can deter you from doing the right thing, because you may not see what you want to see on the scale, but we all know that can be due to sooooo many factors.

  3. I keep measurements in areas of concern. I measure my waist and love handles every week, and they numbers are going down, even though my weight loss has slowed. However, I am getting stronger in the gym, so I am sure I am not losing muscle.

  4. And of course pictures, they are very good motivators to say the least.

Sorry, I know I didnt answer your question, but I think you are majoring in the minor stuff right now. Your progress so far seems great, just keep it up!

Also, I think a DEXA at my school is around $600, and they arent too keen on doing them for some reason.

4

Thanks for the responses. I appreciate the time and advice.

To answer the main question: I am doing it simply because I want to know. Will it make any appreciable difference right now? No. However, it will give me a more objective baseline to measure against in the future. I had thought I had a decent baseline with the 7pt in January, despite questioning the trainer on the high numbers (I had one done in November by someone else which came out to 23.6%), but that is obviously not the case.

The latest skinfold test cant even be used in terms of just looking at the difference at each site in milimeters.

My goal is to get below 10% BF by the end of the year. Why below 10%? Because I have never done it and I wanted a challenge. So, I will definitely be measuring again this year (probably 2 more times). My initial plan was to use the 7pt skin fold test to determine if I met my goal, but I no longer have any real confidence in it.

As for using other measures, this is great advice. I have been doing this also. I am taking girth measurements over 8 or 9 sites weekly. I am also taking photos monthly. Strangely enough, the photos are less motivating to me than the girth measurements, but that may have something to do with the fact that I like numbers and I find them motivating–as long as they are reasonably accurate/consistent.

Thanks again for the responses and encouragement.

5

I think you are right on track.

If you want numbers, use a skinfold. But find someone who is experienced in it, so that they do it the same way every time (no variance in performing the skin fold). Whether or not it is accurate, doesnt matter so much to judge progress. Going from 25% to 20%, or going from 20% to 15%, is still 5% difference, and thats all that really matters is the difference.