DEXA Scan in Greater Boston
A low-dose X-ray scan of your bones, muscle and fat, and 4 clinics in Greater Boston that list it.
- Time
- 10 to 30 minutes Lying still on a table
- What you do
- Lie still while it scans No injection, no tunnel
- You get
- Bone density scores Often with a body composition report
A DEXA scan uses a very low dose of X-rays to measure your bone density. You lie still on a padded table in everyday clothes, as long as nothing has metal in it, while a scanning arm passes slowly over you.
Bone density scanning is established care for osteoporosis screening at the ages guidelines set. The same scan can also split your weight into fat, lean tissue and bone, and many people use that part as a baseline to track as they train or change how they eat.
Physical activity in Greater Boston, by the numbers
The rate of physical inactivity in Greater Boston is lower than the national rate. About 1 in 5 adults in Greater Boston did no physical activity outside work in the past month, compared with about 1 in 4 nationally. That adds up to roughly 740,000 adults across five counties.
CDC estimates. PLACES figures are modelled from a national health survey, not counted from medical records, so read them as estimates.
See how the five counties compare
| County | No exercise outside work | Obesity | Serious difficulty walking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 18.3% | 23.8% | 9.4% |
| Suffolk | 23.8% | 24.2% | 10.8% |
| Essex | 24.1% | 30.0% | 12.3% |
| Norfolk | 17.1% | 23.5% | 9.9% |
| Plymouth | 20.4% | 29.7% | 12.0% |
| Greater Boston | 20.4% | 25.6% | 10.6% |
| United States | 25.1% | 33.2% | 13.8% |
Source: CDC PLACES, 2023 county estimates. Greater Boston = Suffolk, Middlesex, Norfolk, Essex and Plymouth counties, weighted by adult population.
longevityclinicshub.comYour regular doctor is the place to start, especially before a big change in how active you are. The tests above show where you're starting from, so progress is easier to see later.
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DEXA Scan: common questions
Which clinics in Greater Boston list DEXA scans?
4 in our Greater Boston guide: Healthspan Longevity, Men's Health Boston, Goodhaven Health and Mass General Brigham Executive Health Program.
How do I prepare for a DEXA scan?
Skip calcium supplements for at least a day beforehand and wear clothes with no metal zips or buttons. Each clinic sends its own instructions.
What do the T-score and Z-score mean?
A T-score compares your bone density with a healthy young adult. A Z-score compares it with people of your own age and size. Your report usually shows both.
How much radiation is it?
Very little: less than a tenth of a standard chest X-ray, and less than a day of natural background radiation.
Sources: ACR and RSNA, RadiologyInfo: Bone Density Scan (DEXA); U.S. Preventive Services Task Force: Osteoporosis to Prevent Fractures, Screening