The tests, in plain English
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.
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.
Cash price: $65 to $249
VO2 max test
Measures how well your body uses oxygen while you exercise hard, on a bike or treadmill with a mask on.
Cash price: $100 to $675
Resting metabolic rate
Measures how many calories you burn at rest by analyzing your breath while you sit quietly.
Cash price: $50 to $300
Bioimpedance 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.
Strength, mobility and balance
Simple tests like grip strength, standing up from a chair and holding your balance.
Prices that clinics publish on their own websites, across all the cities we cover. Prices change, so confirm with the clinic.
Physical activity in Raleigh-Durham, by the numbers
The rate of physical inactivity in Raleigh-Durham is lower than the national rate. About 1 in 5 adults in Raleigh-Durham did no physical activity outside work in the past month, compared with about 1 in 4 nationally. That adds up to roughly 330,000 adults across seven counties.
By county
| County | No exercise outside work | Obesity | Serious difficulty walking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wake | 18.0% | 29.3% | 9.8% |
| Durham | 21.6% | 36.1% | 11.5% |
| Johnston | 23.6% | 35.1% | 13.5% |
| Orange | 18.1% | 28.0% | 10.1% |
| Chatham | 22.5% | 30.1% | 15.1% |
| Franklin | 25.0% | 38.8% | 15.4% |
| Person | 28.4% | 38.8% | 18.1% |
| Raleigh-Durham | 19.8% | 31.5% | 11.1% |
| United States | 25.1% | 33.2% | 13.8% |
Source: CDC PLACES, 2023 county estimates. Raleigh-Durham = Wake, Durham, Johnston, Orange, Chatham, Franklin and Person counties, weighted by adult population.
longevityclinicshub.comYour regular doctor is the place to start, especially before a big change in how active you are. The tests above show where you're starting from, so progress is easier to see later.
