DEXA Results: Body Fat

Understanding your body fat is a crucial part of assessing your overall health and fitness. A DEXA scan provides an accurate, detailed breakdown of your body fat percentage and its distribution across different regions of your body. This data helps you set realistic goals and track progress toward achieving optimal health.

For more information on interpreting your full report, read our post on How to Interpret Your DEXA Scan Results.

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What is Body Fat Percentage?

Body fat percentage is the proportion of your total body weight made up of fat. While everyone needs some fat for essential functions like energy storage and hormone regulation, too much or too little can affect your health.

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Healthy Ranges:

Body fat percentage varies by age, gender, and activity level:

• Men: 10-20% (healthy range)
• Women: 18-28% (healthy range)

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Excess Body Fat:

High body fat levels are linked to obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and other metabolic conditions.

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Low Body Fat:

Extremely low body fat can compromise hormonal function, immunity, and energy levels.

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Regional Fat Distribution

One of the unique features of a DEXA scan is its ability to measure fat distribution in specific areas of your body. Your results will show:

• Arms and Legs: Useful for understanding fat loss or muscle-building progress in these regions.
• Trunk: Includes the chest, abdomen, and back, where visceral fat may accumulate.
• Android Region: Fat around the abdomen, a critical indicator of metabolic health.
• Gynoid Region: Fat around the hips and thighs, more common in women.

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Visceral Fat: The Hidden Risk

A DEXA scan also measures visceral fat, the fat stored deep within the abdominal cavity around your organs. Unlike subcutaneous fat (the fat beneath the skin), visceral fat is metabolically active and linked to serious health risks, including:

• Heart disease
• Type 2 diabetes
• Stroke

Keeping visceral fat levels low is essential for long-term health.

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How to Interpret Your Results

Total Body Fat Percentage

Compare your percentage to healthy ranges for your age and gender. Aim for gradual reductions if your levels are above normal.

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Regional Fat Percentage

Look at where fat is distributed in your body. Higher fat percentages in the android region (belly) may require targeted lifestyle changes.

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Visceral Fat Levels

Pay close attention to this measurement. Even small reductions in visceral fat can lead to significant health benefits.

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How to Reduce Body Fat

If your DEXA results show higher body fat levels, here are steps you can take:

• Nutrition: Focus on a balanced diet rich in lean proteins, whole grains, healthy fats, and vegetables. Reduce processed foods and sugar intake.
• Exercise: Combine strength training with cardio to burn fat and build muscle.
• Sleep: Prioritize 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night to regulate hormones that affect fat storage.
• Hydration: Staying well-hydrated helps your metabolism function efficiently.

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Tracking Progress with DEXA Scans

A DEXA scan is the most reliable way to track changes in body fat over time. Schedule follow-up scans every 3-6 months to measure the effectiveness of your fitness and nutrition programs.

Understanding your body fat through a DEXA scan is a powerful way to take charge of your health and work toward your fitness goals.

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Book Your DEXA Scan in San Francisco at KALOS Today

If you’re ready to take control of your health with the most accurate body composition analysis available, it’s time to book your DEXA scan at KALOS. Whether you’re looking to get lean, build muscle, improve performance, or optimize longevity, our advanced technology and expert guidance will help you get there. Schedule your scan today at KALOS—your journey to data-driven fitness starts now.