A DEXA scan measures bone, muscle and fat, including the fat around your organs. A VO2 max test measures your fitness, which is strongly linked to long-term health. Both are most useful repeated over time, so you can see whether your training is working.
The tests, in plain English
Think of it like checking a car. DEXA looks at the frame: your bones and muscle. VO2 max tests the engine: how well your heart and lungs deliver oxygen.
DEXA scan
A low-dose X-ray that measures your fat, muscle and bone density, including the fat around your organs. You lie still for about 10 minutes.
Cash price: $75 to $249
For: Anyone tracking muscle, fat or boneVO2 max test
Measures how well your body uses oxygen while you exercise hard, on a bike or treadmill with a mask on. Fitness is one of the strongest signals of long-term health.
Cash price: $105 to $675
For: Anyone who can safely exercise hardResting metabolic rate
Measures how many calories you burn at rest by analyzing your breath while you sit quietly. Useful for planning nutrition and weight goals.
Cash price: $99 to $300
For: People working on weight or nutritionBioimpedance body composition
A scale or handheld device that sends a tiny current through your body to estimate fat and muscle. Quick and cheap, but readings shift with how much water you have had.
For: A quick check between DEXA scansStrength, mobility and balance
Simple tests like grip strength, standing up from a chair and holding your balance. Quick, cheap, and closely tied to staying independent as you age.
For: Everyone, especially from midlife onPrices that clinics publish on their own websites, across all the cities we cover. Prices change, so confirm with the clinic.
