How DEXA scans can guide nutrition and exercise

This clip is from episode #311 ‒ Longevity 101: a foundational guide to Peter's frameworks for longevity, and understanding CVD, cancer, neurodegenerative disease, nutrition, exercise, sleep, and more

In the full episode, we discuss:

- Overview of episode topics and structure
- How Peter defines longevity
- Why healthspan is a crucial component of longevity
- The evolution of medicine from medicine 1.0 to 2.0, and the emergence of medicine 3.0
- Overview of atherosclerotic diseases: the 3 pathways of ASCVD, preventative measures, and the impact of metabolic health
- Cancer: genetic and environmental factors, treatment options, and the importance of early and aggressive screening
- Neurodegenerative diseases: causes, prevention, and the role of genetics and metabolic health
- The spectrum of metabolic diseases
- Why it’s never too late to start thinking about longevity
- The 5 components of the longevity toolkit
- Peter’s framework for exercise—The Centenarian Decathlon
- Peter’s nutritional framework: energy balance, protein intake, and more
- Sleep: the vital role of sleep in longevity, and how to improve sleep habits
- Drugs and supplements: Peter’s framework for thinking about drugs and supplements as tools for enhancing longevity
- Why emotional health is a key component of longevity
- Advice for newcomers on where to start on their longevity journey
- More.

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About:

The Peter Attia Drive is a deep-dive podcast focusing on maximizing longevity, and all that goes into that from physical to cognitive to emotional health. With over 90 million episodes downloaded, it features topics including exercise, nutritional biochemistry, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, mental health, and much more.

Peter Attia is the founder of Early Medical, a medical practice that applies the principles of Medicine 3.0 to patients with the goal of lengthening their lifespan and simultaneously improving their healthspan.

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[DeuceDeuceBravo]

My DEXA scan was a real eye opener. Lot more visceral fat than I expected, plus osteoporosis in spine and hips. Definitely changed some things in my life.

[kokokatze]

There are two types of scanners that use the same technology. DEXA Body Composition scan (for athletes, fitness etc, likely not covered by insurance) and a DEXA Bone mineral density scan (for screening for osteopenia/osteoporosis, likely covered by insurance when you reach a certain age)

[jasonneely]

I find the DEXA scans to be a valuable
Piece of information and a lot of data. However, it can be hard to interpret without the right sort of physician to know how to properly read the results and make recommendations based on finding. It would be great to have a breakdown of low/average/high ranges and what certain “hot spots” of fats mean in terms of reducing that area.

[jlvandat]

Average cost of a DEXA Scan is roughly $200-$350 depending on location, assuming no insurance. Seems like a good investment assuming you can find a qualified doc to interpret results.

[KatJst]

I wish I could get a doctor to do this. I have to make educated guesses

[gloriareszler]

This is so important! I have to pay for the DEXA scan - not covered in Ontario! I'm 77 yrs old & I cut out almost all sugar of any kind (avid label reader) & that caused my cravings to disappear. But ... I wasnt bery hungey anymore!! So ended up doing intermittent fasting. But my muscle mass is disappearing! I believe I need to eat a ton more protein! Not an easy thing to do when I love my veggies & that's what I am primarily eating. Get great sleep but I believe something is wonky!! What to do?
!🤔

[FlatToRentUK]

I wouldn't mind paying for a DEXA scan but the problem is I doubt I'd get a really worthwhile analysis of the results. Or quality recommendations what to change.

As it is I'm very confident that I'm in a good place for all those measurements and am progressing the key exercise areas of VO2 Max and strength. But I'd still love confirmation of this.

[josedavidmelerosuso]

Around 90€ in Madrid. TA for the information. I did not know about it. 💚🙏🏽

[elijahmandeville]

The thumbnail on this one is honestly diabolical 😂

[annetteyoutube]

Over- versus under-nourised --- there are two kinds:
1) calories and 2) nutrients. You can be simultaneously overly nourished with calories, yet be under-nourished of nutrients.

[ToddLiles]

Are you guys using the Oral Glucose Test to check how they handle glucose?

[oksanakaido]

I've gotten several DEXA scans and they only measure bone mass, not fat or anything else. Now I'm wondering if there are different types of DEXA scans

[forestsprite]

My insurance company wont pay for one til 65. Seems ud want to know the base to compare

[jenniferbower]

How do you know what is adequate for amount of muscle I have 95lbs of lean mass at my last DEXA Fit. Age 44, 5’4” & 127 lbs

[jmsee]

I've often thought of getting one but will they give me this kind of valuable information? Or do you hand the results to a physician like Dr Attia so they can interpret it?

[gennarocitro]

Just run, lift and eat clean. You'll. Be fine

[BrianS-nyyd]

Is a DEXA scan necessary to know a person needs to lose a few pounds?

[EllenPitts]

So why isn’t this part of regular healthcare? I’ve never had a doctor mention it outside of TikTok.

[MarissaCarterArtist]

Who does dexa scans? Or rather who initiates the tests?

[deagingguru]

How about bone mineral density? Don't you want to check for osteopenia/osteoporosis?