A standard bathroom scale can’t tell the difference between metabolic fat, skeletal muscle and bone mineral distribution, which is a problem if you’re serious about long-term preventative health. An advanced body composition scan gives you the technical data to guide real decisions about your health, not just your weight.
At HealthScreen, body composition analysis is offered as a premium add-on within our physician-led diagnostic day, available across our Melbourne and Sydney clinics.
What is an Advanced Body Composition Scan?
A body composition scan at HealthScreen uses our InBody970 bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) technology to map your ratios of skeletal muscle mass, adipose tissue distribution, and fluid balance. It’s offered as an optional add-on to your HealthScreen diagnostic day, included as standard in our Platinum program, so your results are reviewed alongside your 100+ biomarker panel rather than in isolation.
True health optimisation focuses on long-term function, not aesthetic change. Tracking these baseline metrics over time helps our medical team implement targeted strategies to protect your metabolic and structural health.
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Moving Beyond the Scale: What a Body Composition Scan Measures
When exploring what is body composition, it helps to think of the body as a system of tissues rather than a single weight number. Traditional metrics like BMI are often misleading because they can’t tell the difference between a high concentration of lean muscle and excess visceral fat.
Skeletal Muscle Mass
Tracking lean tissue levels across specific zones to identify early signs of muscle loss, important for protecting mobility and metabolic health as you age.
Visceral Adipose Tissue
Measuring the fat stored deep within the abdominal cavity around vital organs, a major indicator of systemic inflammation and cardiovascular risk.
Fluid Distribution
Monitoring hydration and fluid balance, which can flag early signs of inflammation.
Our Technology: The InBody970
We use the InBody970, which applies 3MHz bioelectrical impedance analysis to send safe, low-frequency electrical signals through your body’s tissues. It measures segmental lean mass and fluid distribution with precision, giving our clinical team an objective baseline to track over time.
If you specifically need bone mineral density measured, for example, to assess osteoporosis risk, HealthScreen also offers a dedicated DEXA (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) bone density scan as a separate add-on. DEXA and body composition scans measure different things: DEXA is the clinical gold standard for bone strength and fracture risk, while body composition analysis tracks muscle, fat and fluid distribution. Many clients benefit from both, depending on their risk profile, your physician can help you decide which is right for you.
The Benefits
The Potential Benefits of Body Composition Analysis
Tailored Health and Fitness Plans
Gain accurate insights into your body’s composition to create personalised strategies for fitness and health goals.
Monitor and Celebrate Progress
Track your improvements over time with fitness scans, keeping you motivated and on track.
Enhanced Health and Performance
Identify specific areas for improvement to optimise your overall wellness and physical performance.
Preventative Health Insights
Detect potential health risks early, such as muscle imbalances or excess visceral fat, allowing for proactive lifestyle adjustments.
Key Metrics Table: Understanding Your Results
| Diagnostic metric | What it targets | Why it matters | How it’s used in your program |
| Segmental Lean Mass | Skeletal muscle across the torso and limbs | Helps identify early muscle loss to support long-term mobility | Tracked over time with targeted coaching |
| Visceral Fat Level | Deep abdominal fat around internal organs | A key indicator for metabolic and cardiovascular risk | Analysed alongside your 100+ biomarker panel |
| Bone Mineral Density | Skeletal strength (via DEXA add-on) | Early screening for bone thinning | Reviewed with your physician if clinically indicated |
| Total Body Fat % | Overall tissue ratio | Replaces generic BMI with precise tissue data | Reviewed during your 14-day physician follow-up |
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HOW IT WORKS
Our Process
STEP 1
Consultation
A detailed evaluation of your current health, including biomarker analysis.
STEP 2
Preparation
Prepare for the scan by avoiding heavy meals or exercise immediately beforehand.
STEP 3
Scan
Using advanced body composition testing, the scan measures factors like body fat analysis, lean muscle mass measurement, and bone density assessment in a non-invasive, quick procedure.
STEP 4
Results
Detailed metrics are immediately available, allowing our experts to interpret your data and provide personalised health assessment recommendations.
Integrated Clinical Support: Physicians and Dietitians Working Together
A major limitation of standalone commercial testing is being handed a raw data printout with no clear path forward. At HealthScreen, your body composition results are reviewed by your physician alongside a comprehensive resting ECG, targeted head and neck ultrasounds, and your extensive blood panel.
Findings are compiled over a two-week window to ensure accuracy, and explained during your comprehensive follow-up visit via telehealth, 14 days after your initial diagnostic day. If you extend into our optional 12-month care pathway, our Accredited Practising Dietitians will also work with you across three consultations to tailor a nutrition and lifestyle plan to your results.
Still Have Questions? We’ve Got Answers.
Is a body composition scan covered by Medicare or private health insurance?
Because these are advanced, asymptomatic preventative assessments designed for early detection and longevity planning rather than reactive symptom management, they sit outside standard Medicare billing codes and private health extras.
Can I book a standalone body composition or DEXA scan at your clinics?
Body composition and DEXA scans are offered as add-ons to your HealthScreen diagnostic day, so your results are reviewed by a physician alongside your broader health picture rather than in isolation.
Please note, DEXA scans are only available if clinically indicated.
How do your diagnostic programs incorporate genetic testing?
Genetic testing at HealthScreen is conducted via a non-invasive saliva swab rather than a blood test. It’s included as standard in our Platinum program, or available as an optional add-on to your core program. Samples are analysed by our partner laboratory and your results are explained thoroughly by our medical team.
What preparation is required for an accurate scan?
For the most accurate results, we recommend maintaining normal hydration and avoiding heavy exercise or caffeine immediately before your 3-to-4-hour on-site diagnostic day. Our client concierge team will guide you through the preparation instructions ahead of your appointment.
Understand What Your Body Is Really Telling You
Your physical health is best measured by more than a number on a scale. Discover the reassurance of definitive clinical clarity through HealthScreen’s premier health screening programs, available across our Melbourne and Sydney clinics.
Add a body composition scan or biological age testing to your next HealthScreen program. You can book online or call 1300 03 1300 to speak with our team.
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