A DEXA scan, in plain English
A DEXA scan uses a very low dose of X-rays to measure your bone density. You lie still on a padded table in everyday clothes, as long as nothing has metal in it, while a scanning arm passes slowly over you.
Bone density scanning is established care for osteoporosis screening at the ages guidelines set. The same scan can also split your weight into fat, lean tissue and bone, and many people use that part as a baseline to track as they train or change how they eat.
Physical activity in St Louis, by the numbers
The rate of physical inactivity in St Louis is about the same as the national rate. About 1 in 4 adults in St Louis did no physical activity outside work in the past month, compared with about 1 in 4 nationally. That adds up to roughly 520,000 adults across seven counties and the city of St. Louis.
By area
| Area | No exercise outside work | Obesity | Serious difficulty walking |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | 25.4% | 31.3% | 13.9% |
| St. Charles | 23.2% | 35.7% | 11.7% |
| St. Louis (city) | 27.0% | 37.0% | 16.1% |
| Madison | 22.1% | 38.7% | 13.6% |
| St. Clair | 25.0% | 38.8% | 14.5% |
| Jefferson | 27.7% | 40.3% | 14.6% |
| Franklin | 29.4% | 39.6% | 15.9% |
| Lincoln | 28.8% | 39.9% | 14.9% |
| St Louis | 25.3% | 35.4% | 14.0% |
| United States | 25.1% | 33.2% | 13.8% |
Source: CDC PLACES, 2023 county estimates. St Louis = St. Louis, St. Charles, St. Clair, Jefferson, Franklin, Madison and Lincoln counties and the city of St. Louis, 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.
