Before you book
Tell the clinic the question you want answered and ask which appointment it recommends. A hip and spine bone density examination and a whole-body composition scan are not interchangeable. If you have an earlier report, ask whether the new clinic can make a meaningful comparison.
Mention possible pregnancy, recent contrast or nuclear medicine imaging, implants and any difficulty lying flat. Ask about table and positioning requirements if they may affect access. The clinic can decide whether the examination or timing needs to change.
Body composition preparation checklist
Consistency is the main rule for a repeat composition scan. Ask for the clinic’s protocol for food, fluids, exercise, clothing, bladder emptying and time of day. Record what you actually did, especially if it differs from the previous appointment.
- Food: ask whether to attend fasted or at a consistent interval after eating. Do not assume bone-density instructions apply to composition testing.
- Fluids: follow normal, clinic-directed preparation. Deliberate dehydration does not make a result more useful.
- Exercise: ask how long to leave after training. Avoid arranging one visit straight after a workout and the next under very different conditions.
- Clothing: choose clothing with minimal metal and expect to remove items or change if asked.
- Repeat testing: bring the earlier full report and, where possible, use the same scanner and protocol.
Bone density preparation checklist
Diagnostic bone density guidance can differ from a sports composition protocol. RadiologyInfo advises avoiding calcium supplements for the 24 hours before its described examination and declaring recent contrast or radioisotope studies. Confirm the instructions and any waiting period with your own imaging clinic.
Bring the referral, relevant previous scans and the information the clinic requests. Tell the operator about implants or previous surgery affecting the spine or hip. Do not stop prescribed medicines or change a medical eating or fluid plan based on this checklist.
If you cannot follow an instruction
Contact the clinic before the appointment. Give a short explanation of the practical issue, such as a medical reason you cannot fast, the timing of another imaging study or a mobility limitation. The useful response is an agreed plan, not guessing which instruction matters least.
If you have already eaten or trained differently from last time, tell the operator. Keep that preparation note with the report. It can help the practitioner assess a later difference without treating it as a straightforward tissue change.
On the day and afterwards
Allow time for questions before the scan starts. Confirm who will explain or formally report the findings and how you will receive your copy. Before leaving, check whether you need to arrange a follow-up appointment yourself.
Save the original report rather than only a photograph of the headline number. Scanner details, regional measurements, units and report notes may all matter later. If you enter values in our tracker, keep the report alongside the record.
Common questions
Can I eat before a DEXA scan?
Ask which examination you are having. Diagnostic bone-density and body-composition protocols can differ. Follow your clinic’s written instructions, especially for repeat comparisons.
Can I drink water before a DEXA scan?
Ask the clinic about its fluid protocol and follow any medical advice you already have. Do not deliberately dehydrate yourself to change a result.
What should I wear?
Comfortable clothing with minimal metal is practical. The clinic may ask you to remove jewellery or change into a gown. Check its instructions before attending.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Find the right appointment.
For diagnostic bone density, start with your referring doctor. For body composition, compare what is included and who will explain the report.
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