Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DEXA)
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Definition
This method is a three component model used to measure bone minerals, body fat, and muscle.
How it Works
A person lays on an x-ray table while two lose x-rays, one overhead and another underneath; scan the body collecting data at 0.5 cm intervals. This process takes around 12 to 20 minutes.
Accuracy
Within 1.2%
Disadvantages
- Need a skilled radiologist
- Very expensive
- Not very accessible to the public
- Non-standardized technology
Accuracy
- No special preparations
- Very accurate
- Very detailed reports
- Painless
Other Methods for Testing Body Fat
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