Frequently Asked Questions

How do I best prepare for my scan?

Once you book you will receive a confirmation email with everything you need to know. If you have not received this email, please contact our office to confirm your email address.

Why are you only open from 5-10am?

You must refrain from eating, drinking and exercising the morning of your scan for the best and most consistent results. This is why we are only open early in the morning.

I havent received my DEXA results?

Please check your spam/promotions folders, as sometimes it is redirected to this inbox. Please contact us via email if you are not able to locate after you have checked these folders.

I have jewellery I cannot remove, can I still have a scan?
Yes you can, jewellery will increase your bone density results and will not accurately reflect your true results.

I have a pacemaker or internal metal, can I still have a scan?

Yes you can, it will only impact your bone density reading, however this will remain consistent across scans as long as the artefact remains internal.

What age do you have to be to have a scan?

You must be 16 years old to have a full body composition scan at our clinic

Do I need a referral from a doctor or health practitioner?

You do not require a referral for a DEXA body composition scan. You may be recommended to have a scan by a health professional such as a dietitian, doctor, physiotherapist, psychologist, physiologist, or personal trainer, however it is not needed. You are able to book yourself in online or over the phone.

I have already filled out the radiation waiver once, do I have to do it again?

Yes you do, it is a requirement of our radiation possession licence that every person must fill out a waiver before every scan.

Can I have a DEXA scan done while pregnant or breastfeeding?

It is recommended NOT to have a scan done whilst pregnant. However having a scan done while breastfeeding will not have any adverse effects.

If I am dehydrated &/or glycogen depleted at my test, will this impact on my results?

Significant changes in hydration status & muscle energy reserves (glycogen) can impact on the measurement of muscle mass. If you present to us dehydrated or glycogen depleted (say for example if you have really pulled back on the carbs in recent weeks) then our measure of muscle mass could be lower by upwards of 1-1.5kg (if energy reserves are full, your body may have 400-500g of glycogen in your muscles & liver, with every gram of glycogen being stored with 3 grams of water). We do the very best to ensure the technical reliability of the results but entrust in you to present well hydrated & not energy depleted.

How often should I have a DEXA scan?

Queensland Health regulations restrict the number of DEXA scans an individual can have per year at 6, however this doesn’t mean that everyone needs to have a DEXA scan every 2 months, it all depends on your goals. There is no right or wrong answer for this, but as a guide we have found:

Athletes, boot-campers, or individuals training towards a specific short term goal & expecting change – scan every 6-12 weeks
Individuals with longer term goals training & expecting change – scan every 3-6 months
People wanting to have a “check-up” to see if their body is changing or they are maintaining their body composition over time – every 6-12 months

Is there a weight limit for the machine?

180kgs