Concierge diagnostics · London
Body composition analysis, DEXA, BIA and air-displacement plethysmography — going beyond BMI.
Body composition analysis measures the split between fat mass, lean muscle and bone — a far more useful metric than BMI alone. Modern private options: DEXA (gold-standard), bioelectrical impedance (BIA / InBody) and air-displacement plethysmography (BOD POD).
Why patients choose us
- 01
The right modality
DEXA, BIA (InBody) or BOD POD — we match the test to the question, not the other way round.
- 02
Same-day report
Numbers, percentiles and a plain-English summary in the same visit.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Key facts
Body composition analysis — the essentials.
Six things worth knowing before you book — modality, what each measures, and why the numbers matter more than BMI.
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Definition
What body composition analysis measures
The split between fat mass, lean muscle and bone mineral content — a far more useful metric than BMI alone.
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Gold-standard
DEXA is the reference test
Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry is the gold-standard for fat, lean and bone measurement in one scan.
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Fast
BIA (InBody) is fast and radiation-free
Segmental bioelectrical impedance gives fat, muscle and water distribution in under a minute.
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Air-displacement
BOD POD uses air, not radiation
Air-displacement plethysmography measures whole-body density — comfortable, radiation-free and precise.
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Beyond BMI
More useful than BMI
Especially in athletes, older adults and patients on a weight-loss pathway — where BMI misclassifies.
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Cardiometabolic
Visceral fat is a risk marker
Visceral adipose tissue area is a strong, independent cardiometabolic risk marker.
Preparation
From choosing the modality to your report — what happens, in order.
A short, well-prepared visit — with the right specialist waiting on the other side of the result.
Phase 1 · Before your scan
Choose modality, fast, hydrate
Phase 2 · On the day
~5–10 minutes at the clinic
Phase 3 · After
Report and specialist follow-up
- 01
Before
Choose the right modality
DEXA, BIA (InBody) or BOD POD — we pick the test that answers your question.
- 02
Before
Fast four hours before the scan
No food for 4 hours. Hydration is important — especially for BIA, which depends on body water.
- 03
Before
Wear light gym clothing
Shorts and a T-shirt or a light gown. Nothing bulky, nothing with metal.
- 04
On the day
No jewellery or metal
Rings, watches, chains and belts off before the scan starts.
- 05
On the day
The scan itself — 5 to 10 minutes
Lie flat for DEXA, stand on the platform for InBody, or sit inside the BOD POD chamber.
- 06
After
Report issued same day
A written report with fat mass, lean mass, visceral fat area and reference percentiles.
- 07
After
Follow-up with the right specialist
Sports-medicine, nutrition, endocrinology or bariatric MDT — routed to the right team for your result.
Typical scan time: 5–10 minutes. Report: same day.
What it shows
What comes back on the report.
Body composition analysis answers specific questions about fat, muscle, bone and visceral risk — these are the numbers you take away.
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Total fat mass and percentage
Absolute fat mass in kg and body-fat percentage against a reference population.
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Lean muscle mass
Skeletal muscle mass — the metric that matters for strength, metabolism and healthy ageing.
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Visceral adipose tissue area
Deep abdominal fat — the strongest cardiometabolic risk marker on the report.
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Bone mineral content
Whole-body bone mineral content — a broader view than a spine/hip DEXA alone.
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Segmental fat and muscle distribution
Arms, legs and trunk analysed separately — useful for training and rehab planning.
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Left / right symmetry
Side-to-side differences that flag deconditioning, injury or asymmetric training.
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Reference-population percentile
Where your numbers sit against age- and sex-matched norms.
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Red flag: sarcopenic obesity with frailty — geriatric assessment referral
Low muscle mass with high fat mass and frailty warrants a comprehensive geriatric review.
Next steps
What we do with the numbers.
A scan is only useful if it changes what you do. These are the pathways your results feed into.
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Personalised nutrition plan
A dietitian-led plan built around your fat, muscle and visceral-fat numbers.
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Resistance training programme
A strength programme targeted at preserving or building lean mass — especially over 50.
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Cardiometabolic risk reduction
Structured pathway targeting visceral fat, lipids, blood pressure and glucose.
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Bariatric MDT referral
Where indicated: bariatric multidisciplinary team review — surgical and non-surgical options.
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Endocrinology referral
For suspected thyroid, adrenal or reproductive-hormone disorders affecting composition.
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Structured re-assessment at 3–6 months
Repeat scan on the same modality to track real change against a baseline.
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Osteoporosis pathway if low BMD
Onward hip/spine DEXA, bloods and bone-health clinic if bone mineral density is low.
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Sports-medicine follow-up
For athletes and active adults: a sports-medicine consultant to translate numbers into training.
Our vetted London network
A small panel of clinics, we picked them.
DEXA, InBody and BOD POD partners across central and greater London — introductions made privately, once we understand what you need.
Selection criteria
How we choose every clinic in our network.
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DEXA scanners maintained and calibrated to ISCD standards
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InBody 770 or equivalent segmental multi-frequency BIA
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BOD POD air-displacement plethysmography, calibrated per session
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Same-day report with reference percentiles and plain-English summary
Red flags
When body composition analysis needs more than a scan.
Nine patterns where the numbers point to a medical pathway rather than a lifestyle plan — and we route accordingly.
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Sarcopenic obesity
Low muscle mass with high fat mass — a strong predictor of poor outcomes; needs a structured plan, not just a scan.
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Sarcopenia with frailty
Low muscle mass plus frailty markers triggers geriatric-assessment referral.
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Rapid unintentional weight loss
Any unexplained loss of more than 5% body weight warrants urgent medical work-up before repeat scanning.
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Osteoporosis on DEXA
Low bone mineral density triggers the osteoporosis pathway — bloods, FRAX and bone-health clinic.
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Muscle-wasting disease
Neuromuscular disease, chronic inflammatory conditions and steroid-related myopathy need specialist review.
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Cushing’s syndrome differential
Central obesity with muscle loss and skin changes — endocrinology work-up before nutrition planning.
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Post-cancer treatment cachexia
Cancer-related cachexia is not a lifestyle problem — oncology and dietetic input come first.
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Eating disorder screening
We screen before repeat scanning; unhealthy weight loss and body-image concerns need dedicated support.
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Anabolic-androgenic steroid misuse
Unusually high lean mass with cardiovascular risk features prompts a candid conversation and cardiology review.
Reading your report
A body composition report can look intimidating. It isn’t.
Whatever the modality, the report keeps to the same four parts.
A quiet reminder
The report is written for your doctor, not for you — and that’s normal.
If you would like us to talk you through it before your follow-up, just ask.
- 01 Composition
Fat mass, lean mass and bone
Absolute values in kg alongside body-fat percentage, appendicular lean mass and whole-body bone mineral content.
- 02 Visceral
Visceral adipose tissue area
The cardiometabolic red flag on the report — with target ranges and a plain-English interpretation.
- 03 Segmental
Segmental and symmetry data
Arm, leg and trunk breakdowns with left/right comparison — useful for training and rehab.
- 04 Impression
The conclusion: read this first
Percentiles, red flags and the concrete next step — nutrition, training, or specialist referral.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover depends on your policy and clinic; we confirm with your insurer before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about body composition analysis.
Quick answers on modality choice, visceral fat, preparation, safety and how often to repeat.
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What is body composition analysis?
A measurement of the split between fat mass, lean muscle and bone mineral content — a far more useful metric than BMI alone. Modern private options include DEXA (the gold-standard), bioelectrical impedance (BIA / InBody) and air-displacement plethysmography (BOD POD).
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Is DEXA better than an InBody scan?
DEXA is the reference standard for fat, lean and bone measurement in one scan. InBody (BIA) is faster, radiation-free and excellent for tracking change over time. For a baseline, DEXA is usually the right first test; for routine monitoring, InBody is often ideal.
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How should I prepare for a body composition scan?
Fast for 4 hours, stay well hydrated (especially important for BIA, which depends on body water), wear light gym clothing, and remove jewellery and metal before the scan.
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What is visceral fat and why does it matter?
Visceral adipose tissue is the deep abdominal fat around the organs. It is a strong, independent cardiometabolic risk marker — a better predictor of cardiovascular risk than BMI or waist circumference alone.
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How often should I repeat the scan?
A structured re-assessment at 3–6 months on the same modality is typical when tracking a nutrition or training programme. More frequent scanning rarely adds value and can be counter-productive.
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Is body composition analysis safe?
BIA and BOD POD use no radiation. DEXA uses a very low dose of X-rays — comparable to a few hours of natural background radiation. All three are considered very safe for repeat use.
Sources
Guidelines and professional bodies referenced.
- NICE. Obesity: identification, assessment and management (CG189).
- International Society for Clinical Densitometry — Official Positions.
- British Dietetic Association — professional guidance.
- American College of Sports Medicine — position stands.
Last reviewed 2026-07-30 · Next review 2027-07-30 · Approx 6 min read
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In practice, in London
How body composition analysis tends to unfold when you go private
With body composition analysis, the London question is usually about report turnaround and the radiologist reading it — not whether the scan is available. Waiting lists on the NHS for body composition analysis vary widely by borough and by how the GP letter reads. Privately in London, we can normally offer a slot inside the same week, sometimes within 48 hours if there’s a cancellation. The difference isn’t clinical quality — the consultants are frequently the same faces you’d see on the NHS — it’s the calendar.
A private body composition analysis pathway in London usually looks like this: an initial consultation, any diagnostics booked at a nearby facility (most within Zone 1 or 2), and a written report sent to you and your GP within a few days. The consultants we work with hold NHS posts alongside their private lists, which keeps the standards consistent across both settings. For body composition analysis specifically, the difference between a routine report and a sub-speciality read is where private care earns its keep.
We’re careful about what a private pathway for body composition analysis can and can’t promise. It can compress a wait, put you in front of a subspecialist quickly, and get a proper report in your hands within a week. It can’t rewrite what the imaging or the bloods say. Setting that expectation up front tends to make the whole experience less stressful.
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