Body Composition analysis (DEXA scan) coming to NZ

[DEXA_Scan]

Dear NZBB members,

I am part of a group of investors looking to establish a body composition analysis business in New Zealand (initially in Wellington or Auckland). We propose to import a state of the art Dual Energy X-ray Absorbtiometry (DEXA) scanner which has the capacity to measure body composition in an accurate and precise manner and is often referred to as the ‘gold standard’ in body composition analysis.

As bodybuilders/fitness enthusiasts, we anticipate that you will be one of our major sources of customers.

If you wish to assist with our market and viability research, we would appreciate your response to some of all of the below questions:

1. Are you interested in having a DEXA scan?

2. How much would you be prepared to pay for a DEXA scan?

3. Ideally, how often would you have a DEXA scan?

4. What would your reason be for having a DEXA scan?

We appreciate any input you may have.

MODERATORS: I am aware you have paid advertising on this website. If the above breaches your rules, please advise me and I will speak to you to make other arrangements.

[jimmybro1]

How does the X-ray determine body composition?

Does it work by just determining the density? So it could detect things like Osteoporosis?

1-Would be interested.

2-$20

3 & 4-Would use scan to track progress throughout the season to monitor progress once every fortnight or so.

If the cost was to significant I would just continue with skin folds as they are readily available to purchase the calipers, also as skin folds are sufficient enough to determine progress (record millimeters per fold rather than composition that some chart gives you).

Knowing your exact composition isn't necessary in bodybuilding as the appearance is obviously the deciding factor on how you perform not who's sub 4%.

However some people may want to know there exact bodyfat, I don't think their would be much of a market unless it was ready affordable, and available for personal trainers to use for their clients etc.

Some sport science focused University's maybe interested though like AUT and MASSEY.

[soundsgood]

1. Are you interested in having a DEXA scan?

Yes very much

2. How much would you be prepared to pay for a DEXA scan?

$150-$200

3. Ideally, how often would you have a DEXA scan?

3-4 times a year

4. What would your reason be for having a DEXA scan?

Monitor progress of muscle gain and fat loss in individual areas of my body

[DEXA_Scan]

How does the X-ray determine body composition?

Does it work by just determining the density? Hence could detect things like Osteoporosis?

1-Would be interested.

2-$20

3 & 4-Would use scan to track progress throughout the season to monitor progress once every fortnight or so.

If the cost was to significant I would just continue with skin folds as they are readily available to purchase the calipers, also as skin folds are sufficient enough to determine progress (record millimeters per fold rather than composition that some chart gives you).

Knowing your exact composition isn't necessary in bodybuilding as the appearance is obviously the deciding factor on how you perform not who's sub 4%.

However some people may want to know there exact bodyfat, I don't think their would be much of a market unless it was ready affordable, and available for personal trainers to use for their clients etc.

Some sport science focused University's maybe interested though like AUT and MASSEY.

Thank you for your input Jimmy.

As you picked up - the DEXA scanner was originally utilised to measure bone density.

The science is not my particular area of expertise, but here is my understanding on how the machine works: The concept is similar to an x-ray, but more complicated. Two x-rays of differing strengths are beamed through the body. The machine then measures how much of the x-rays are absorbed, and therefore the density of the tissue it has passed through. The machine rotates around the patient during this process to provide a full body analysis. A computer programme then analyses this data against the known density of tissue.

We have not conducted a full market research, but I am afraid that price would likely be unviable.

I appreciate your thoughts regarding a DEXA scan's applicability to bodybuilding. We certainly do intend to make the scan available to personal trainers to use with their clients.

[DEXA_Scan]

1. Are you interested in having a DEXA scan?

Yes very much

2. How much would you be prepared to pay for a DEXA scan?

$150-$200

3. Ideally, how often would you have a DEXA scan?

3-4 times a year

4. What would your reason be for having a DEXA scan?

Monitor progress of muscle gain and fat loss in individual areas of my body

Thank you for your input, soundsgood.

[AZIDE]

.

[Phedder]

No issues with this post mate. Mutually beneficial in my eyes, and you're not selling a product or service, yet.

1. Are you interested in having a DEXA scan?

Yes

2. How much would you be prepared to pay for a DEXA scan?

$100-$200

3. Ideally, how often would you have a DEXA scan?

2-3 times per year.

4. What would your reason be for having a DEXA scan?

Monitor changes in body composition whilst maintaining my bodyweight within my weight class, and correlating those changes with strength development.

[M.T]

Don't see a big market for this tbh more of a courisity thing personally. As mentioned there are pretty effecitve ways to measure fat already and they are free once you have the tools.

1. Are you interested in having a DEXA scan?

Not really but would give it a go.

2. How much would you be prepared to pay for a DEXA scan?

Nothing over $100.

3. Ideally, how often would you have a DEXA scan?

Start and middle of year.

4. What would your reason be for having a DEXA scan?

Compare how fat I am to other powerlifters.

[Optimass]

1. Are you interested in having a DEXA scan?

May be - but how is it more effective than a Biostat test which is 99% accurate (top of the range model) and is already available in some gyms and clinics.

http://www.biostat.co.nz/biostat/about.html

May want to save yourself some $$$ > $7k for the medical standard from memory??? >

2. How much would you be prepared to pay for a DEXA scan?

$30 - $50 maxx - as above Biostat test cost around this from place to place and even if the result was 95% accurate that is all that would be required to give a good indication of where one was at in preparation for a comp. ($150 for a fat test??! It wont give you a trophy and you know you havent dieted enough if you look in the mirror a week before you show).

3. Ideally, how often would you have a DEXA scan?

12 weeks out first test > then may want them every two weeks.

4. What would your reason be for having a DEXA scan?

Bench marking during cutting for a show or perhaps measuring gains during offseason growth cycles

DEXA Scan

A dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan is primarily used for measuring bone density. It's as simple as laying on a table and getting a full-body X-ray, but the accuracy of the formulas have been called into question recently. While it seems to be nearly as accurate as hydrostatic weighing (more on that later) for young, healthy males, it falls apart when used on other groups.

Scans are often covered by your insurance for bone density checks but not for body composition, and this test can run in the thousands for a full workup.

http://www.shape.com/weight-loss/weight-loss-strategies/best-and-worst-ways-measure-body-fat?page=5

Doesnt sound too compelling ...

[Diab0lic]

Would definitely be interested and would prob get once or twice a year, depending on what I was doing. Price I guess no more than $150

lol @ the guy saying $20

[jimmybro1]

2. How much would you be prepared to pay for a DEXA scan?

$30 - $50 maxx - as above Biostat test cost around this from place to place and even if the result was 95% accurate that is all that would be required to give a good indication of where one was at in preparation for a comp. ($150 for a fat test??! It wont give you a trophy and you know you havent dieted enough if you look in the mirror a week before you show).

.

Totally agree paying that kind of money for a body composition test is ridiculous.

Tracking progress by skin folds is much cheaper so can be done regularly to track progress.

[FellowshipOfTheRon]

lol @ the guy saying $20

Why laugh? We are not holding a gun to the guys head and saying this is the price, he's just doing some research and we are providing our honest opinions on how we would use and what it would take to get us to use the product. If I use it it would have to be either a lot better than what's currently available or if only slight difference then cheaper or at least on par with price to convince me to go there instead of the competition. Yes it's low and in reality it might cost him more to run it than that but again, just offering from a common consumers perspective and not a business owners and hope it helps so he's not screwed over by trying to target it at the wrong people/places.

[Wendy]

1. Are you interested in having a DEXA scan? Yes - very much so

2. How much would you be prepared to pay for a DEXA scan? $50.00?

3. Ideally, how often would you have a DEXA scan? Every 3 months

4. What would your reason be for having a DEXA scan? Measure progress

[Peroxide]

1. Are you interested in having a DEXA scan?

Yes very much

2. How much would you be prepared to pay for a DEXA scan?

$150-$200

3. Ideally, how often would you have a DEXA scan?

3-4 times a year

4. What would your reason be for having a DEXA scan?

Monitor progress of muscle gain and fat loss in individual areas of my body

THIS.

[Robyn.Hutchison]

1.  Very much so.  ASAP. 

 

2.  Have been quoted $150.  I think up to $100 is more realistic and acceptable.

 

3.  2-3 yearly

 

4.  Went through early menopause.  Monitoring bone density is advised.

 

Thanks ... Robyn

[Michael Knight]

Whenever I go to Melbourne I get this done.

 

I have a friend in a professional sports team and they regularly get these scans. I got given "mates rates" for $50. I wouldn't want to pay too much more than that.

 

I find it very beneficial and would recommend it to bodybuilders and athletes. (note that they are not the same). It is excellent to measure progress and what sort of supps/training style benefits you the most.

 

Results wise, anyone that does resistance training will find that their bone density is off the charts. Be prepared for rude awakenings b/f% wise.... many people tend to underestimate themselves. Most would look at me and say under 10%, but I was 13%. A friend that did it estimated himself to be 12 - 15% and was 21%. The machine doesn't lie.

 

 

[Dinahlady]

Yeah agreed that they will give you higher bf reading. 

I have a friend who you would definitely call 6% or 7% "shredded" and he came back as 12% 

Similarly a lean muscular girl came out as 24% - the results look pretty cool though and you get a cool scan of your bones and stuff. She found out she had scoliosis that she didn't know about. 

 

At the end of the day who cares how accurate your body fat measure is - if your callipers come out at 8% or 12%. Does it matter? Isnt it that all you're really looking for a way to tell if you're mass or fat is going up or down, callipers and a mirror should do fine for that. even in bodybuilding the person who wins or who looks the leanest on stage isn't neccessarily the lowest bodyfat percentage. 

But - in a more helpful answer - I'm sure there would be heaps of people who would throw large sums of money for information like that - for example in wellington les mills most people pay 60$  (even up to  120$) for a  one hour PT session. So I think 50 - 150 would be something people would pay for this. 

Personally I'd pay like <50$ - But i dont really believe in it. 

 

 

 

[bille]

1. Are you interested in having a DEXA scan? - Yes

2. How much would you be prepared to pay for a DEXA scan? - $50

3. Ideally, how often would you have a DEXA scan? - once a month

4. What would your reason be for having a DEXA scan? - track progress

The gym where I am training have got this new system to measure body fat, muscle mass and it also measures hydration levels, pretty cool. I have had 3 scans so far and my body fat has gone up by 0.5 kg in a month, which I am obviously not happy about, but at least I know! I was skeptical about it at first, but it gave me very accurate readings, and they have got an online portal where I can check my progress. I probably wouldn't pay a lot of money for a DEXA scan, because this system is very good and a lot more accurate than skinfold tests (IMHO anyway).

Here's a link if anyone is interested: http://www.fitbox.co.nz/body-composition-analysis