DEXA for Muscle Gain: The Gold Standard for Tracking Progress

OCT 10, 2025

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If you’re serious about building muscle, you’ve probably stepped on the scales, taken progress photos, or relied on how your clothes fit to see if your training is working. The problem? None of these methods can tell you what really matters: are you actually gaining lean muscle, or just adding fat?


That’s where a DEXA scan comes in.


At Telomyx, we use DEXA as the gold standard for measuring muscle gain, giving you a precise, science-backed view of your progress. With each scan, you can see exactly how much lean mass you’ve built, where it’s distributed, and whether your training is moving you towards your goals.

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“After six months of lifting, I thought I’d gained 5kg of muscle. My DEXA scan showed it was actually 3kg muscle and 2kg fat. That insight changed everything — I adjusted my diet and training, and my next scan showed almost pure lean gain.”

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Why Tracking Muscle Gain Is So Difficult

Most people trying to build muscle run into the same challenges:

  • Scales don’t tell the full story. Weight can go up from water, fat, or muscle — but a scale can’t tell you which.
  • Photos are misleading. Lighting, angles, and body posture can hide or exaggerate changes.
  • Strength gains aren’t the same as muscle gains. You might lift heavier because of neural adaptations, not actual hypertrophy.
  • Fat gain often goes unnoticed. In a bulking phase, many people add more fat than muscle without realising it.

Without accurate measurement, you’re left guessing — and guesswork can mean wasted time, wasted effort, and disappointment.

What is a DEXA Scan?

A DEXA (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) scan is a quick, non-invasive test that measures your body composition with unmatched precision. In under 10 minutes, it gives you a detailed breakdown of:

  • Lean mass (muscle) in kilograms
  • Fat mass in kilograms and percentage
  • Bone mineral density
  • Regional distribution (arms, legs, trunk)

DEXA is used in sports science, elite athletics, and medical research worldwide because it’s accurate, reliable, and safe. The radiation dose is lower than a day’s natural background exposure — making it completely safe for repeat tracking.

 

You can see more information about what a DEXA scan is here. 

Why DEXA Is Perfect for Muscle Gain

When your goal is hypertrophy, DEXA is the most powerful tool available. Here’s why:

  1. Tracks Lean Muscle Directly
    DEXA tells you in kilograms how much lean muscle you have — no more relying on scales or guesses.
  2. Measures Regional Muscle Growth
    See whether your training is building your arms, legs, or trunk. If your legs aren’t growing despite squats, you’ll know it’s time to adjust your programme.
  3. Identifies Muscle Imbalances
    Symmetry matters. DEXA shows if one leg or arm is lagging behind, helping athletes and lifters correct weaknesses.
  4. Monitors Fat Gain During Bulking
    Not all weight gain is muscle. DEXA separates fat mass from lean mass so you can fine-tune nutrition and avoid unnecessary fat gain.
  5. Provides FFMI (Fat-Free Mass Index)
    This lets you see how your muscle growth compares to healthy or athletic standards, normalised to your height.

Put simply: DEXA gives you the truth about your muscle growth.

How Often Should You Do a DEXA Scan?

For most people aiming to build muscle, the sweet spot is:

  • Every 3–6 months → Long enough to see meaningful changes, short enough to keep progress on track.
  • Every 8–12 weeks → For competitive athletes or bodybuilders in a structured programme.

By comparing scans over time, you’ll have hard data on whether your training and nutrition are working.

How DEXA Fits Into a Muscle Gain Strategy

While DEXA is the backbone of tracking hypertrophy, combining it with other Telomyx tests gives you the complete picture:

  • DEXA Scan → Shows how much muscle you’ve built.
  • VO₂ Max Test → Defines recovery and conditioning zones to optimise training intensity.
  • RMR Test → Tells you your baseline calorie needs, helping you eat for growth without fat gain.

Together, these tests give you a roadmap for building lean muscle efficiently.

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FAQs

Is a DEXA scan safe?

Yes. It uses a very low dose of X-ray — less than you’d get on a short flight.

Will a DEXA scan show how much muscle I’ve gained?

Absolutely. It tracks lean mass directly in kilograms, making it the most accurate way to measure muscle growth.

How often should I scan?

Every 3–6 months is ideal. Athletes may benefit from more frequent tracking.

Can I use DEXA if I’m cutting as well as bulking?

Yes. DEXA is just as valuable for fat loss phases, showing whether you’re losing fat while preserving muscle.

Book your DEXA Scan today

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