Research
Mixed
Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) is a precise, safe, and widely available method for assessing body composition, specifically Lean Soft Tissue (LST) and Appendicular Skeletal Muscle (ASM), though it has limitations regarding body thickness and hardware variability.
If you need an accurate assessment of your muscle mass (specifically in arms and legs) and body fat, DXA is the preferred clinical tool due to its high precision and safety. It is increasingly available as a 'secondary' use of osteoporosis scanners. Ensure the machine is properly calibrated, as results can vary between manufacturers.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
DXA is a quick, noninvasive, and safe method for body composition assessment... Moreover, DXA measures 3 body composition compartments and can provide regional estimates of these compartments. DXA is also a very precise method for quantifying body composition; its overall precision exceeds that of any other body composition methodology.
Why this rating
Supported by citations to multiple studies validating DXA against cadaver and neutron activation analysis.
Source
Lean Tissue Imaging
Carla M. Prado et al. · Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition · 2014
DOI 10.1177/0148607114550189
narrative_reviewCited 550×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
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