Has anyone gotten a dexa scan to start measuring body fat percentage and look at body composition? I am thinking about it as a new way to set goals and keep making progress as I think I am pretty close to my maintenance weight. Looking for pros and cons.

No cons other than cost perhaps. I think its a great idea, some people (me included) tend to focus on the scales too much. We may strive and struggle to reach some magical scale weight but we may have insufficient body fat to lose after already losing a lot of weight. Focusing on body composition is a positive way forward.

I had one. It was very helpful. I weighed 146 lbs at the time and wanted to see how much more I could lose. The tech said - "none - you're already at 22% body fat - so you're already there!". I wouldn't have known that otherwise since i had a lot of excess skin that I assumed was fat - but nope!

This is literally exactly how I am doing my goals. I have had several DXA scans (there's a place here called BodySpec that charges something like $45, no insurance) because despite being obese I am also extremely muscular. I took the lowest of the lean body mass results (knowing that I would lose some muscle during this weight loss process), added 15% body fat, and voilà, 240 lbs. goal.

It confused my surgeon at first but he was supportive.

9 hours ago, catwoman7 said:

I had one. It was very helpful. I weighed 146 lbs at the time and wanted to see how much more I could lose. The tech said - "none - you're already at 22% body fat - so you're already there!". I wouldn't have known that otherwise since i had a lot of excess skin that I assumed was fat - but nope!

Edited October 30, 20214 yr by Jaye W
This is very helpful. Ty