Friday, 5 June 2026

Read Your Whole Body DEXA Report in 5 Seconds

Whole Body DEXA provides a complete picture of your body composition. To quickly understand the report, focus on three key measurements:

1. Total Body Fat (%)

Shows how much of your body weight is fat.

Normal Range

  • Men: 10–24%
  • Women: 20–31%

Higher values indicate excess body fat and increased metabolic risk.


2. VAT/SAT Ratio

Compares Visceral Fat (VAT) around internal organs to Subcutaneous Fat (SAT) under the skin.

Interpretation
< 1.0 – Favorable

1.0–2.0 – Increased visceral fat

> 2.0 – High visceral fat burden

Higher VAT is associated metabolic risk and cardiovascular disease.


3. ASMI (Appendicular Skeletal Muscle Index)

Measures muscle mass in the arms and legs relative to height.

Normal Range

  • Men: ≥ 7.0 kg/m²
  • Women: ≥ 5.5 kg/m²

Lower values may indicate reduced muscle mass (sarcopenia).


Quick Interpretation

Parameter

        What It Tells You

Total Fat %

         Overall body fat

VAT/SAT Ratio

         Metabolic risk

ASMI 

         Muscle health




Example Report

  • Total Fat: 29.8% ↑
  • VAT/SAT Ratio: 2.18 ↑
  • ASMI: 7.2 kg/m²

Summary: Normal muscle mass with increased body fat and elevated visceral fat. By reviewing these three numbers, most Whole Body DEXA reports can be understood in less than 5 seconds.