Iowa Radiology Blog

Osteoporosis affects an estimated 10.2 million people over the age of 50 in the US. The condition causes bone fragility due to deterioration and loss of density, resulting in fractures for approximately half of women and a third of men. While breaking a bone might not seem like a big deal when you’re young, it can be devastating for older adults. Research suggests that after sustaining a fracture due to osteoporosis, 10% of patients suffer another fracture and 20% die within one year. Within five years, more than 30% experience an additional fracture, and mortality risk is three to four times higher than normal.[1]

Menopause and the years of shifting hormone levels that lead up to it (called perimenopause) cause changes in the body that affect both mental and physical health. Decreasing levels of estrogen and progesterone influence not just the reproductive system but also the nervous system, urinary tract, circulatory system, bones, muscles, hair, skin, and more. 

Why calculate BMI?

BMI is a widely used measure because it’s easy, convenient, and non-invasive. Anyone can quickly calculate their BMI at home with no information other than their current height and weight. You can calculate it yourself using a formula, or you can use any number of free online BMI calculators. While this can give most people a general idea of whether they are carrying extra weight, it falls short in some important ways. 

If you’re thinking about undergoing body composition analysis (BCA) to understand how to better manage your health, you may be tempted to shed pounds before getting on the scanning table. It can be most effective, however, to have BCA before beginning a diet and exercise regimen, while you’re in the midst of it, and after you’ve reached a goal. A detailed analysis of the proportions of fat, muscle, and bone in your body can serve as a valuable guide for your weight loss planning and help you maintain your results. 

Body composition analysis is the process of assessing the content of fat, muscle, and bone in the body. Body fat can be measured in a variety of ways, including using calipers to measure subcutaneous fat (fat stored beneath the skin), special scales, and hydrostatic weighing. While BMI is commonly used to determine whether a person is underweight, overweight, or obese, it is not an accurate measure of fat content in the body or risk of obesity-related disease. To get the most accurate and complete information, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry body composition analysis, better known as a DXA BCA, is the gold standard.

What is bone density testing?

Bone density testing, also known as DEXA (an acronym for dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) scanning, is a way of assessing bone mineral density using advanced, low-dose X-ray technology. It’s commonly used to diagnose osteoporosis, a condition involving gradual loss of calcium that causes bones to thin and become more vulnerable to breaks, and osteopenia (decreased bone mass).^[1]